The FW de Klerk Foundation is shocked - but not surprised - by recent comments about South Africa’s judiciary made by Western Cape High Court Judge President, John Hlophe. According to news reports Hlophe accused the judiciary “of being soaked in politics, battling to deal with transformation, and allowing apartheid-era judges to dominate the narrative”. In a lecture to the University of South Africa’s Department of Public, Constitutional and International Law (UNISA), which he delivered last week - after he had been found guilty of gross misconduct by the Judicial Conduct Tribunal - Hlophe described South Africa’s law “as a white man’s law imposed by colonialists and an infusion of English heritage and the Roman-Dutch law, which rendered it incapable of delivering justice for the common man”.
Judge John Hlophe hits back at tribunalâs âmisdirectionâ in misconduct findings
By Siyavuya Mzantsi
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Cape Town â The Judicial Conduct Tribunal misdirected itself on numerous procedural and substantive issues, rendering its findings unjustified against Western Cape High Court Judge President John Hlophe.
This is according to a statement issued by Hlopheâs lawyer, Barnabas Xulu, late last night in response to the tribunalâs scathing findings against Judge Hlophe.
The tribunal found him guilty of gross misconduct.
His fate will be decided by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), which has a final say on whether the ruling is accepted or dismissed.
Felix Dlangamandla, Netwerk24
All new criminal cases in the Western Cape High Court for this term have been put on hold.
This follows an instruction issued by Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe.
Hlophe said new criminal cases have been cancelled for the term due to heavy backlog in cases.
All new criminal cases to be heard in the Western Cape High Court for this term have been postponed.
This follows an instruction issued by Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe.
Hlophe confirmed to News24 on Tuesday that all new criminal cases have been postponed for the term.
The current term of 10 weeks is scheduled to run from Monday to 20 June 2021, with recess scheduled to begin on 21 June 2021.
JSC must recommend suspension of Judge Hlophe - Freedom Under Law
12 April 2021 10:04 AM FUL
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The Judicial Conduct Tribunal has unanimously found Western Cape judge president John Hlophe guilty of gross misconduct.
The Judicial Conduct Tribunal has unanimously found Western Cape judge president John Hlophe guilty of gross misconduct.
Freedom Under Law CEO, Nicole Fritz speaks to Refilwe Moloto about the ruling by the Judicial Conduct Tribunal that Judge John Hlophe breached sections of the Constitution by trying to influence two justices of the Constitutional Court - Justice Chris Jafta and Justice Bess Nkabinde - to rule in the favour of Jacob Zuma, in a matter between the former president and the NPA.
It is astounding to think that it was some 12 years ago that the Constitutional Court heard a case dealing with Thint and Jacob Zuma. Before judgment in those matters was handed down, Judge President John Hlophe visited Justice Bess Nkabinde and Justice Chris Jafta separately in their chambers at the Constitutional Court and had relevant discussions with them. The first visit was to Justice Jafta towards the end of March 2008; Justice Nkabinde was visited on 25 April 2008. During these respective visits, Judge Hlophe discussed, among other things, the issues which were the subject of the pending judgments in Zuma-Thint matters.
On 30 May 2008, the 11 Justices of the Constitutional Court lodged a complaint with the Judicial Services Commission (the JSC). In terms of the Judicial Services Commission Act 9 of 1994 (the Act), the JSC is the only body empowered to receive and deal with complaints concerning the conduct of judges. The complaint was that Judge Hlophe had, during the discussions with Justice Nkabinde and Justice Jafta, improperly attempted to influence the Constitutional Court’s pending judgment in the Zuma-Thint case.
In 2008, justices reported to the JSC that Judge Hlophe had approached Justice Bess Nkabinde and Justice Chris Jafta and attempted to improperly influence them in a pending case regarding Jacob Zuma and the company Thint.
The Judicial Conduct Tribunal found that Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe had breached sections of the Constitution, when he attempted to influence two justices of the Constitutional Court.
MPs to decide Mkhwebane's future
By Mayibongwe Maqhina
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Cape Town – The parliamentary process to impeach Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane is a step closer to starting.
This became evident earlier this week when the National Assembly announced the special committee to conduct the inquiry to establish whether the charges were sustainable and to report to the House.
Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said in a statement the 26-member committee was constituted by all 14 political parties represented in the National Assembly.
“Eleven will be voting members of the committee and another 15 will be non-voting members,” Mothapo said.
The ANC deployed, among others, deputy chief whip Doris Dlakude, Qubudile Dyantyi, committee chairpersons Tina Joemat-Pettersson, Mondli Gungubele and Philly Mapulane (Alternate) as well as Judy Hermans, Bekizwe Simon Nkosi and Teiliswa Mgweba (Alternate)