Nathan Ponnan
{{Short description|South African judge}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| office1 = Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal
| termstart1 = 1 December 2004
| appointer1 = Thabo Mbeki
| office2 = Judge of the High Court
| termstart2 = 2001
| termend2 = 2004
| appointer2 = Thabo Mbeki
| 1namedata2 = Gauteng
| 1blankname2 = Division
| honorific_prefix = The Honourable
| birth_place = Durban, Natal Province
Union of South Africa
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|08|17|df=yes}}
| alma_mater = University of Durban–Westville
| birth_name = Visvanathan Ponnan
| spouse = Vinitha Jithoo
}}
Visvanathan Ponnan (born 17 August 1960) is a South African judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal. He joined the Gauteng High Court in 2001 and was elevated to the Supreme Court of Appeal in December 2004. Before that, he practised as an advocate in Durban between 1985 and 2001.
Early life and education
Ponnan was born on 17 August 1960 in Durban.{{Cite web |title=Ponnan, Visvanathan |url=https://www.supremecourtofappeal.org.za/index.php/judges/judges-of-the-supreme-court-of-appeal/12-judges/ponnan-visvanathan |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=Supreme Court of Appeal}} He matriculated at Gandhi Desai Secondary School and went on the University of Durban–Westville, where he completed a BA in 1982 and an LLB in 1984.{{Cite news |date=April 2005 |title=Names in the news |volume=18 |pages=26 |work=Advocate |issue=1 |url=https://www.gcbsa.co.za/law-journals/2005/april/2005-april-vol018-no1-p26.pdf |access-date=29 November 2023}}
Legal practice
He was admitted as an advocate of the High Court of South Africa in 1985 and practised at the Durban Bar for the next 16 years. During that time, between 1995 and 1998, he served on the Judge White Commission, which was established by President Nelson Mandela to investigate the administration of the former TBVC states. He was also a commissioner of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration between 2000 and 2001, and he was an acting judge in the Eastern Cape High Court in 2000.
Judicial career
Ponnan joined the bench permanently in 2001, when he was appointed as a judge of the Gauteng High Court. During his latter years in the High Court, he was an acting judge in the Supreme Court of Appeal between 2003 and 2004.
In October 2004, he was one of six candidates shortlisted and interviewed as a candidate for appointment to one of three vacancies at the Supreme Court of Appeal.{{Cite web |date=28 October 2004 |title=Judges grilled for posts |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/judges-grilled-for-posts-20041027 |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=News24 |language=en-US}} The Judicial Service Commission recommended his appointment, and he was appointed by President Thabo Mbeki in November 2004, alongside Dunstan Mlambo and Chris Jafta.{{Cite web |date=4 November 2004 |title=Mbeki announces 7 new judges |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/mbeki-announces-7-new-judges-20041103 |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=News24 |language=en-US}} He was often noted for his judgements on open justice matters{{Cite web |last=Milo |first=Dario |date=26 June 2017 |title=The right to broadcast court cases |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/the-right-to-broadcast-court-cases-20170626 |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2015-04-09 |title=Judicial activism can't just flout the Constitution |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2015-04-09-judicial-activism-cant-just-flout-the-constitution/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} and freedom of information,{{Cite web |date=18 October 2023 |title=Editorial: SCA strikes a blow for media freedom |url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/editorials/2023-10-18-editorial-sca-strikes-a-blow-for-media-freedom/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=Business Day |language=en-ZA}}{{Cite web |last=Wet |first=Phillip De |date=2017-09-29 |title=SCA dismisses Mac Maharaj gagging appeal, endorses transparency |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2017-09-29-sca-mg/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} and he wrote the court's judgements in prominent matters concerning Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe{{Cite web |last=Plessis |first=Charl du |date=11 June 2017 |title=SCA slams Hlophe in judgment |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/sca-slams-hlophe-in-judgment-20170610 |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=News24 |language=en-US}} and the corruption prosecution of former President Jacob Zuma.{{Cite web |date=13 October 2023 |title=Another battering for Zuma as SCA dismisses 'without foundation' private prosecution |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2023-10-13-another-battering-for-zuma-as-sca-dismisses-without-foundation-private-prosecution/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=Sunday Times |language=en-ZA}}
Personal life
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.supremecourtofappeal.org.za/index.php/judges/judges-of-the-supreme-court-of-appeal/12-judges/ponnan-visvanathan Visvanathan Ponnan] at Supreme Court of Appeal
- [https://judgesmatter.co.za/v-m-ponnan/ V. M. Ponnan] at Judges Matter
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ponnan, Nathan}}
Category:21st-century South African judges
Category:20th-century South African lawyers
Category:21st-century South African lawyers
Category:University of Durban-Westville alumni
Category:South African people of Indian descent
Category:Judges of the Gauteng High Court
Category:Judges of the Supreme Court of Appeal (South Africa)