Prof Tladi ecstatic about recent appointment as ICJ judge

Born in Ga-Rankuwa, north of Pretoria, Dire Tladi is grateful and honoured to be a permanent judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The 48-year-old former University of Pretoria professor added that he feels the weight of the responsibility sitting on that court.

Tladi was appointed judge to the Palace of Peace in The Hague, Netherlands by the UN General Assembly and Security Council in November last year but began his term last month.

According to Tladi, his election came at a time the court was extremely busy with the weightiest issues.

“I feel happy and grateful for the opportunity.

The appointment means that I have to move. I am currently looking for a home away from my comfort zone,” said Tladi.

He said only determination and hard work got him where he is currently.

“In many ways, I have been lucky.

“Don’t get me wrong, I have worked very hard and I was prepared, but I realised that many others may have been deserving but never made it.

“I have achieved a lot in international law, and have many accomplishments which all opened the pathway to this position,” said Tladi.

Tladi paid tribute to his late mother and said that she made him the person he is today.

“I’m very grateful to my late mother who made me what I am and instilled in me the values that kept me going, even if I falter from time to time.

“People like Johan Dugard, who probably should have been South Africa’s first permanent judge but he put my name forward to the government.

“People have no idea how much the Minister of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and the president worked to make the election a success and I’m so extremely grateful to them,” said Tladi.

Tladi assumed his seat as new judge of the court with fellow colleagues judges Hilary Charlesworth of Australia, Bogdan-Lucian Aurescu of Romania, Sarah Hull Cleveland of USA and Juan Manuel Gómez Robledo Verduzco of Mexico,.

The ICJ judges elected from among their ranks members sit on the court chamber of summary proceedings, budgetary and administrative, rules and library committees.

“I hope this election shows South African people, especially where I come from (Ga-Rankuwa and Mahikeng) that whoever you are, nothing is beyond reach.

“The first four years of my life were spent in Mabopane before I hauled off to the North West but what I owe is not only to the places that directly gave to me but to all of South Africa,” said Tladi.

He said that he intends to spend his time speaking to children from rural backgrounds across the country whenever he is back home.

“I read and I have two novels called the Sins of the Father and Blood in the Sand of Justice,” said Tladi.

The former professor of international law’s position as a permanent judge in the ICJ is one for the history books.

The ICJ’s role is to settle debates on international law and legal disputes submitted to it by member states and give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorised UN organs and specialised agencies.

Tladi has held several key positions within the field of international law, including chair of the International Law Commission, an organ of the UN renowned for its contributions to the ICJ.

He has also provided invaluable expertise as a legal adviser to the South African mission in New York and as a special adviser to the South African foreign minister.

He has published more than 100 academic publications – articles, books and chapters in books. He holds a BLC LLB (cum laude) from the University of Pretoria, an LLM from the University of Connecticut and a PhD from Erasmus University Rotterdam. He was a member of the UN International Law Commission from 2012 to 2022.

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