Pule Tlaletsi

Lazarus Pule Tlaletsi (born 5 November 1960) is a South African judge who is currently serving as Judge President of the Northern Cape High Court since September 2017. He was formerly the Deputy Judge President of the Labour Court and Labour Appeal Court from 2013 to 2017. He joined the bench in November 2004 as a puisne judge of the Northern Cape High Court. Before that, he was a practising attorney in the North West Province.

Early life and education Tlaletsi was born on 5 November 1960 in Randfontein in the former Transvaal Province. He matriculated in 1980 at Moroka High School and went on to the University of Bophuthatswana,

Legal career After his graduation, Tlaletsi was a candidate attorney at the office of the State Attorney until 1989,

Just over three years later, in August 2013, the Judicial Service Commission announced that he was the sole nominee to fill the position of Deputy Judge President of the Labour Courts. On the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission, Zuma confirmed his appointment to the deputy judge presidency with effect from 2 December 2013. In that capacity, Tlaletsi was acting Judge President of the Labour Courts in 2016.

In April 2017, Tlaletsi was one of two candidates shortlisted to succeed Kgomo as Judge President of the Northern Cape Division, but the other candidate, Judge Cecile Williams, withdrew from the contest shortly before the Judicial Service Commission's hearings were held. During the hearings, Tlaletsi was criticised for having taken over a year to deliver certain judgments in the Labour Appeal Court. Nonetheless, the commission recommended him for appointment, and President Zuma confirmed his appointment as Judge President with effect from 18 September 2017.

Constitutional Court While serving as Judge President, Tlaletsi was an acting judge in the Constitutional Court of South Africa between 2021 and 2022. In that capacity, he wrote on behalf of the Constitutional Court's majority in AK v Minister of Police, Women's Legal Centre Trust v President, and Voice of the Unborn Baby v Minister of Home Affairs.

Personal life He is married to Maletsha Tlaletsi; they have two sons.