STAFF REPORTER
PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe with immediate effect.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Presidency confirmed that Hlophe’s suspension would be valid until a decision was taken by the National Assembly.
“In order to ensure continuity and stability in the work of the divisional high court, the suspension which is in effect immediately, is on condition that Judge President Hlophe completes all part-heard matters and reserved judgments,” Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said.
“President Ramaphosa received the JSC [Judicial Services Commission] report on the 27th of July 2022. Due to the long history and complexity of the matter, President Ramaphosa took time to carefully consider all the permutations of the JSC recommendations, including obtaining guidance from an independent legal opinion.”
The Judicial Services Commission has referred the matter to Parliament for the National Assembly to institute impeachment proceedings against Judge President Hlophe.
In May 2008, 11 Justices of the Constitutional Court lodged a complaint with the JSC against Judge Hlophe for his improper attempt to influence the outcome of certain cases pending before the Constitutional Court in favour of former President Jacob Zuma.
The DA has welcomed what it called the ‘long-overdue’ suspension of Hlophe.
The party said the decision to suspend Hlophe will also help restore credibility to the Western Cape Division of the High Court.
“Earlier this year, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) made a finding of misconduct against Judge Hlophe and recommended that he be suspended in terms of Section 177(3) of the Constitution. This affirms the 12-year-long position of the DA that Judge Hlophe was not fit and proper to lead the Western Cape High Court,” the party said in a statement.
“It is regrettable that this suspension was unnecessarily delayed by President Ramaphosa, as this has resulted in Hlophe inflicting further damage to the judiciary through a variety of reckless statements, while also participating in JSC interviews for the Western Cape High Court.”
INSIDE POLITICS
