Halima Saldulker Explained

Office1:Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal
Termstart1:1 July 2013
Appointer1:Jacob Zuma
Office2:Judge of the High Court
Termstart2:1 August 2004
Termend2:30 June 2013
Appointer2:Thabo Mbeki
1Namedata2:Gauteng
1Blankname2:Division
Honorific Prefix:The Honourable
Birth Place:Durban, Natal
Union of South Africa
Birth Date:6 February 1957
Alma Mater:University of Durban–Westville

Halima Khanam Saldulker (born 6 February 1957) is a South African judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal. She began her judicial career as a judge in the South Gauteng High Court from August 2004 to July 2013, when she was appointed to the Supreme Court. Before that, she practiced as an advocate in Johannesburg between 1988 and 2004.

Early life and education

Saldulker was born on 6 February 1957 in Durban in the former Natal Province (present-day KwaZulu-Natal).[1] She attended Juma Musjid Girls School, neighbouring Durban's Juma Mosque, and matriculated at Durban Indian High School in 1974.[2] Thereafter she attended the University of Durban–Westville, completing a BA in 1977 and an LLB in 1979.

She worked for some time in the insurance sector before qualifying as an attorney. Subsequently, in 1988, she was admitted to the Johannesburg Bar, where she practiced as an advocate for the next 16 years. She was also involved in the General Council of the Bar, which she served as secretary and honorary assistant secretary from 1997 to 2001 and which she represented on the Legal Aid Board from 1998 to 2004.

Judicial career

In July 2004, on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission, President Thabo Mbeki announced Saldulker's appointment to the bench of the Transvaal High Court, later renamed the Gauteng High Court.[3] She joined the bench on 1 August.[4]

She served in the South Gauteng Division for nine years before, on 1 July 2013, she joined the bench of the Supreme Court of Appeal.[5] [6] She was appointed by President Jacob Zuma following interviews in which her performance was largely overshadowed by the controversy surrounding the questioning of a fellow contender, Eastern Cape judge Clive Plasket.[7] [8] [9]

Personal life

She is married to Goolam Saldulker, with whom she has two daughters and a son.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Saldulker, Halima Khanam . 2023-11-04 . Supreme Court of Appeal.
  2. December 2004 . Names in the news . Advocate . 17 . 3 . 14.
  3. Web site: 15 July 2004 . Mbeki appoints nine judges . 2023-11-04 . News24 . en-US.
  4. Web site: Judge H K Saldulker . 2023-11-04 . Judges Matter . en-ZA.
  5. Web site: 2013-05-16 . Names of new judges announced . 2023-11-04 . South African Government News Agency . en.
  6. Web site: 2013-05-16 . Zuma addresses gender concerns with appointment of new judges . 2023-11-04 . The Mail & Guardian . en-ZA.
  7. Web site: Plessis . Charl du . 2013-04-12 . Smuts quits JSC, cites ‘wasted talent’ . 2023-11-04 . Witness . en.
  8. Web site: Tolsi . Niren . 2013-04-12 . JSC conflict laid bare by inconsistency . 2023-11-04 . The Mail & Guardian . en-ZA.
  9. Web site: 10 April 2013 . Merit must trump race, says judge . 2023-11-04 . Sunday Times . en-ZA.