Freedom Under Law hopes Mkhwebane suspension will ‘galvanise’ JSC against Hlophe
Freedom Under Law (FUL) has called on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to take a leaf out of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s book and suspend Western Cape judge president John Hlophe.
Ramaphosa suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane this week pending the impeachment proceedings against her in Parliament.
Freedom Under Law’s Judge Johan Kriegler says Hlophe should follow Mkhwebane out the door.
“It is now 14 years since Judge President Hlophe lobbied two justices of the Constitutional Court in favour of Mr Zuma. Although the Judicial Service Commission months ago found him guilty of gross misconduct, and although the constitution makes provision for suspension pending impeachment, he remains the public image of Justice in the Western Cape.
“Freedom Under Law has repeatedly called on the JSC to recommend his suspension to the president. Perhaps the action now taken against the public protector will galvanise them into action.”
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Kriegler says Parliament should’ve suspended Mkhwebane as early as 2019.
“This failure has caused the country untold harm. Millions have been squandered and weeks of court time wasted in frivolous and vexatious litigation – and the vitally important Office of the Public Protector has become an embarrassment.”
Mkhwebane will remain on suspension until Parliament concludes its probe into her fitness to hold office.
