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

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.