As was seen from an earlier message Justice Landman has just delivered his first judgment in the Labour Appeal Court.   This morning it was reported that the State President has appointed Justice MJD Wallis permanently to the Supreme Court of Appeal.   These are both well-deserved appointments and honours and must be welcomed by all South Africans, especially practitioners in employment law and industrial relations (the ‘world of work law’).

Justice MJD Wallis

I have known Malcolm Wallis since 1976 when I started practising as an advocate in Pietermaritzburg and later Durban.   My sincere congratulations to him on his appointment and we look forward to many ground-breaking  judgments.

In 1976 whilst still a junior at the bar advocate MJD Wallis appeared as junior counsel with Advocate DJ Shaw QC in one of the earliest “labour law” cases (Stewart Wrightson (Pty) Ltd v Thorpe 1977 (2)  SA  943 (AD).   Since then he appeared in numerous important cases acting for both employers and trade unions before being appointed to the High Court and acting in the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Justice AA Landman

Justice Landman has written his first judgment as an acting judge of the Labour Appeal Court.   Adolph Landman first acted as an additional member of the Industrial Court starting on 1 February 1984.   To the best of my knowledge he delivered over 84 reasoned judgments.   He was appointed president of the Industrial Court in June 1993 and delivered his last judgment on 3 June 1996.

Justice Landman acted as a judge in the Labour Court from February 1997 until November 2004 having been appointed as a permanent judge as from November 1997.   He delivered over 228 reasoned judgments during that time.

Thereafter justice Landman was appointed as a judge in the High Court before being appointed as an acting Judge of Appeal in the Labour Appeal Court earlier this year.

With a record of having delivered more than 320 reasoned judgments over nearly 30 years in the field of employment law and industrial relations we know the law is in good hands.   In addition Justice Landman has written over 183 articles for various law journals.

I doubt anyone will be able to match these achievements and we are privileged to have him in the Labour Appeal Court.