Very little happens in the realm of South African politics that isn't, at least, a little contentious. And President Zuma's nomination of Justice Sandile Ngcobo as the next chief justice is contentious for all the right reasons.

It is contentious because Zuma upset the opposition by failing to follow accepted procedure in his nomination process. It is contentious because Ngcobo can only serve two more years on the Constitutional Court bench, which means that Zuma will be given the opportunity to appoint another chief justice in 2011. It is contentious because Ngcobo was the one dissenting voice in the majority judgment legalising the warrants issued for the search of Zuma's premises. It is contentious because Sandile Ngcobo is not Dikgang Moseneke.

But — and this is a very important but — the figure, judgment and integrity of Sandile Ngcobo invites no contention.

In fact, he is a remarkable man who is well-respected by his peers. And that, in South African politics, is refreshing.

We've put together a quick CV based on the biography released by the Presidency. Find out how Zuma's nominee stacks up...

Born: 1 March 1953.

Marital status: Married to Zandile; the couple has three children.

Struggle cred: A political prisoner from 1976-77 following the 1976 student uprising in Soweto.

Education:

• 1975 — B Proc (Bachelor of Law) University of Zululand.


• 1985 — LLB University of Natal.


• 1986 — LLM (Master of Laws) Harvard University School of Law.

Scholarships/Fellowships:

• 1973-76 — Barclay's Bank Scholarship.


• 1985-86 — Fulbright Scholarship.


• 1986 — Harvard Law School Human Rights Fellowship.

Legal experience:

• 1982 — worked as an attorney at the Legal Resources Centre in Durban.


• 1988 — practiced as an advocate in Durban.


• 1989 — an associate attorney at the US law firm Pepper, Hamilton & Scheetz in Philadelphia.
• 1996 — appointed a judge of the Supreme Court, Cape of Good Hope Provincial Division.
• 1997 — appointed as a judge of the Labour Appeal Court.


• 1998 — judge on the Amnesty Committee of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.


• 1999 — appointed the acting judge president of the Labour Court and Labour Appeals Court.


• 1999 — appointed to the bench of the Constitutional Court.


• 1998-2004 — member, and later chairperson, of the Rules Board for Courts of Law.

Areas of expertise: Comparative constitutional law, role of the judiciary in the enforcement of socio-economic rights, and international public law.

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