Interview with Professor Dire Tladi, the South African Candidate for a Seat at the International Court of Justice

• Jurisdiction: South Africa
• Date: 01 June 2023
• Pages: 1-7
• Author: Mutondi Mulaudzi
• Published date: 01 June 2023
• DOI: 10.25159/2522-6800/14408

Interview

Southern African Public Law

https://doi.org/10.25159/2522-68 00/14408

https://unisapressjournals.co.za/index.php/SAPL

ISSN 2522-6800 (Online ), ISSN 2219-6412 (Print)

Volume 38 | Number 1 | 2023 | #14408 | 7 pages

© Unisa Press 2023

Interview with Professor Dire Tladi, the South

African Candidate for a Seat at the International

Court of Justice

Mutondi Mulaudzi

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3468-8347

University of South Africa

tondimul@gmail.com

Abstract

Mutondi Mulaudzi interviewed Professor Dire Tladi, SARChI Chair for

Constitutional International Law and South Africa’s candidate for election to

the International Court of Justice (ICJ). If elected, Professor Tladi would be the

first South African elected to the Court. The interview was conducted online on

28 July 2023. In this interview, Mutondi Mulaudzi and Dire Tladi discuss the

latter’s introduction to international law in his early career and his vision for his

tenure at the Court if elected. The interview reveals the compelling reasons

behind South Africa’s selection of Professor Tladi to be its candidate for

election. Tladi’s background in government enables him to understand the limits

of States; his role as a comprehensive international lawyer and involvement with

the International Law Commission (ILC) provides him with a profound grasp

of various facets of international law. Also, his experience as Counsel grants

him insight into the thought processes of international legal practitioners.

Having dedicated the entirety of his career thus far to the study and development

of international law, Tladi’s experience positions him as a ‘triple threat’ in the

field. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Keywords: Dire Tladi; International Court of Justice; ICJ elections; international law