Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng isn’t the kind of chap that puts up with bullshit.

Yesterday saw the new ministers that form part of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Cabinet sworn in at Tuynhuis, and Mogoeng presided over the ceremony.

Deviating from what his role would usually entail, he delivered a stinging rebuke aimed at ministers past and present who have grossly abused their powers.

It was an incredibly powerful moment, and you can’t help but feel that some of his sentiment was aimed at our new deputy president David Mabuza, who comes with a scandalous rap sheet.

Via a Twitter thread from Scapegoat‏ (@AndiMakinana), here’s what he had to say:

Forgive me for departing from known procedure, but I will be failing in my duty if given our history I don’t underscore the significance of an oath of office.

We are not here for a photo shoot; we are not here for a photo opportunity, we can’t travel all this long just to come, gather and undertake an insignificant task.

Everybody who’s going to be called upon to take an oath or affirmation is required to do so as allegiance to the republic and obedience to the Constitution. If you like, you’ve come to enter into a formal contract with the people of South Africa.

This oath of office or affirmation is going to judge you before the public even dares to do so. We cannot ritualistically gather here, read out this thing as if it is inconsequential. It exists because there is good reason for its existence.

Otherwise it wouldn’t have found its way into our most important document as a republic which is the Constitution. The assumption is ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE A MEASURE OF CREDIBILITY & INTEGRITY & some character to write about are going to be presented here before the nation

… as those who are going to serve them as dictated by the Constitution. May we all be warned that speaking for myself, I’m not here because I have nothing to do, I could easily designated this to the judge president of the High Court.

I came here because our history since 1994 renders it absolutely necessary that we conscientise ourselves as deputy president, ministers and deputy ministers about the profundity of the responsibility we are about to assume.

It’s not about assuming power so that you can look important, it’s not about having resources distributed to your department or section so that we can now begin to look like we owe you something; it is to become a servant of South Africa.

And may the oath or the affirmation judge most brutally any of us who is here for a show or any of us who will betray the constitutional aspirations of the people of South Africa after having an oath or affirmation administered to him or her.

I could say more but time does not permit. I’m just saying … if after reflection you consider yourself disqualified, I’m sure the president won’t mind if you pull out.

A South African president and pulling out mentioned in the same sentence? Doesn’t happen often.

Jokes aside, the Chief Justice’s message was clear. If you’re here to serve your own interests, rather than those of South Africans, then don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

It’s worth watching Mogoeng’s speech from the six-minute mark below, because his passion is clear for all to see:

Spit that fire.

In case you’re unsure what the role of the Chief Justice is all about, they are the most senior judge of the Constitutional Court, and head of the judiciary of South Africa, who exercises final authority over the functioning and management of all the courts.

Ain’t it good to know we have a man of conscience and credibility up top?

[sources:ewn&twitter]