On the 31st of December 2008 President Kgalema Motlanthe announced he had chosen Justice Edwin Cameron to take over the position left vacant by Constitutional Court Justice Tholakele Madala, who retired at the end of 2008.
Cameron, who has been serving as a Supreme Court of Appeal judge, commented that he was “humbled” by his appointment to South Africa’s highest court.
An openly gay man living with HIV, Cameron was described by Nelson Mandela as a "hero" when he became the first prominent public official in the country to reveal his HIV positive status.
HIV activist Zackie Achmat told The Star newspaper that he had spoken to the judge after his appointment was announced on New Year's Eve. "I think this is one of the most important events in his life," he said. "The Constitutional Court needs judges who will continue its legacy of independence and rigour."
"I happen to be white, male, gay, living healthily with HIV (and 193cm tall, and bald). None of those incidental attributes defines me as a human being - but each helps me appreciate how precious our constitutional scheme is, because it grows our strength through affirming our diversities as South Africans," Cameron told the Weekend Argus.
In addition to Judge Cameron, the Judicial Service Commission recommended three other nominees to Motlanthe, who made the final decision after consulting Chief Justice Pius Langa and opposition party leaders.
There are eleven Constitutional Court justices who serve a non-renewable term of 12 years.
Judge Cameron will move into his chambers at the court on the 12th of January 2009.
