Mogoeng Mogoeng: the 'puppet' who cut his strings

As chief justice, Mogoeng Thomas Reetsang Mogoeng surprised most analysts and many South Africans by his willingness to defy inappropriate political expectations. Among these expectations were that he would demonstrate his executive-mindedness by being prepared to defend the indefensible out of loyalty to the president who appointed him. After all, his appointment sidelined the respected and more experienced then Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke. Instead, he demonstrated a willingness to withstand significant political pressure and hand down judgments that have fearlessly challenged the interests of a faction within the ruling elite, and that have, in turn, attracted their heated (and baseless) criticism of a 'biased judiciary. Mogoeng unwaveringly held the line against the swelling tide of corruption, speaking out firmly and clearly in favour of the moral imperative to challenge elite corruption.