South Africa’s Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng is seen at the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg. Photo: Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko.
South Africa’s chief justice on Sunday rebuffed a demand that he publicly apologize for comments in which he criticized his country’s hostile policy toward the State of Israel, countering that he had not overstepped his authority as a judge in doing so.
Mogoeng Mogogeng told a prayer meeting on Sunday night that the constitutional provision invoked to censure him on four counts of misconduct had been misapplied. “That provision is about ensuring that while you are a judge, you can’t become a mayor, you can’t become a premier, you can’t become a minister, you can’t become a member of Parliament because you will then be exercising executive authority,” Mogoeng stated, saying that he had made his points about Israel as a South African “citizen.”
Jabu Kumalo
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng will appeal a decision by the Judicial Conduct Committee to apologise for his comments on Israel.
The JCC said it would determine an appeal date.
Complaints against Mogoeng were brought by Africa4Palestine, SA BDS Coalition and the Women s Cultural Group.
A defiant Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng has resolved to challenge a decision by the Judicial Conduct Committee (JCC) to apologise for and retract comments he made about Israel during a webinar in 2020. The Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng has signified his intention to appeal the decision made by [Judge Phineas Mojapelo], a member of the Judicial Conduct Committee (JCC), in the complaints lodged by Africa4Palestine, SA BDS Coalition and the Women s Cultural Group, the JCC said in a statement on Sunday.