Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his heartfelt congratulations to Professor Dire Tladi of the University of Pretoria for his election as a judge of the International Court of Justice by the United Nations. This achievement follows the endorsement of Prof Tladi's nomination by the South African government and its membership in the Permanent Court of Arbitration in May 2023.

According South African Government News Agency, President Ramaphosa lauded Prof Tladi’s election as a significant personal accomplishment and a source of national pride. The President acknowledged the United Nations' confidence in Prof Tladi's abilities and noted his addition to the ranks of South Africans serving the international community and contributing to global betterment.

President Ramaphosa expressed his best wishes to Prof Tladi as he prepares to join the International Court of Justice, based in The Hague, Netherlands. The Court, as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, is responsible for settling legal disputes between states and providing advisory opinions on legal issues to authorized UN organs and specialized agencies.

The International Court of Justice consists of 15 judges, elected for nine-year terms by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council. Prof Tladi's extensive experience in international law, spanning academia, government service, diplomacy, and practice, makes him a valuable addition to the Court.

Professor Tladi holds a distinguished position as a Professor of International Law at the University of Pretoria. He also serves as President of the South African Branch of the International Law Association and as an Executive Member of the International Law Association. His career includes serving as Chair of the International Law Commission, a key organ of the UN and a feeder body for the International Court of Justice.

Prof Tladi has previously worked as a legal adviser at the South African Mission in New York and as a special adviser to South African Ministers of International Relations.