12 April 2021, 7:01 AM | SABC | @SABCNews
Image: GCISJudge President John Hlophe was found guilty for improper attempt to influence two Constitutional Court justices
Constitutional law expert Advocate Paul Hoffman says there is a possibility that President Cyril Ramaphosa will suspend Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe, now that the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) tribunal has found him guilty of misconduct.
Legal journalist Karyn Maughan shares more on the judgment:
Hlophe was found guilty for improper attempt to influence two Constitutional Court justices in the corruption matter involving former president Jacob Zuma and French company Thales. Judges Bess Nkabinda and Chris Jafta reported that Hlophe had visited them separately in their chambers to discuss pending judgments in the corruption matter between Zuma and the French company, Thales in 2008, breaching the prov
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 discus
Voting Booth Would you choose to continue working from home after the coronavirus lockdown if given the option? Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Yes, it s much better for me
No ways! I can t wait to get back to the office
A mixture of both would suit me best
Results 40% - 7977 votes 12% - 2316 votes 48% - 9674 votes
Poto: Felix Dlangamandla
Johann Kriegler
provides reasoning for FUL s view on why it is of the belief that Judge John Hlophe should be suspended over his dismissal of the charge of corruption against Bongani Bongo.
Earlier this month, Freedom Under Law (FUL) took the unusual step of publicly criticising Judge John Hlophe s dismissal of the charge of corruption against former minister Bongani Bongo. FUL described the judge s conduct as yet another act of gross misconduct making him unfit him for judicial office and undertook to back up its comments with an analysis. This we proceed to do.
The case:
It was a straightforward case, well within the competence of any junior judicial officer. Applications in terms of section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act and its predecessors have been a daily feature of our criminal courts for many years.
Calls for Judge President John Hlophe s suspension based on vendetta – lawyer
Search Polity
Note: Search is limited to the most recent 250 articles. To access earlier articles, click Advanced Search and set an earlier date range.
To search for a term containing the & symbol, click Advanced Search and use the search headings and/or in first paragraph options.
With.
Clear Search
Sponsored by
Sponsored by
John Hlophe are based on a personal vendetta, his lawyer said in a statement.
Attorney
Barnabas Xulu released a statement on the judge president s behalf to address calls for his suspension after he kicked out the corruption case of African National Congress MP