Elizabeth Baartman

Elizabeth Dorothy Baartman (born 3 December 1960) is a South African judge of the Western Cape Division of the High Court of South Africa. Before President Jacob Zuma appointed her to the bench in August 2009, she was an advocate and prosecutor for the National Prosecuting Authority. She also served a decade as a magistrate in Cape Town.

Early life and education Born on 3 December 1960, Baartman grew up in Hangberg in Cape Town. Her father was a fisherman, and she was classified as Coloured under apartheid. After attending grade school in Hout Bay, The Judicial Service Commission recommended her for appointment, and President Jacob Zuma confirmed her and Ashley Binns-Ward to the vacancies the following month. She joined the bench permanently with effect from 26 August 2009.

Appellate nominations Baartman was an acting judge in the Supreme Court of Appeal from June 2015 to May 2016 and later from December 2023 to March 2024. She was twice shortlisted and interviewed for possible permanent appointment to the Supreme Court, once in April 2016 and again (this time with the support of former Constitutional Court justice Kate O'Regan) in April 2018. On the first occasion, Supreme Court President Lex Mpati told her during her interview that the other judges of appeal believed that she "needed more honing with more acting stints" before she was ready to serve in the appellate court permanently; likewise, her lack of experience in complex constitutional adjudication was a matter of concern in the 2018 interview. The Judicial Service Commission did not recommend her for appointment on either occasion.