Hlophe’s JSC appointment ‘obvious, extraordinary’ conflict of interest, says Zille
Helen Zille, chairperson of the DA’s Federal Council, says the appointment of impeached Judge John Hlophe to the Judicial Service Commission is a conflict of interest.
Zille said on Thursday that it was irrational for a judge impeached for gross misconduct to serve on a body overseeing judicial appointments.
Parliament impeached the former Western Cape Judge President in February after the Judicial Service Commission found him guilty of gross misconduct.
The charge stemmed from his attempt in 2008 to influence two Constitutional Court judges to rule in favour of former president Jacob Zuma in his arms deal corruption case.
Hlophe, who is now a Member of Parliament, was nominated to the JSC by his political party Umkhonto weSizwe.
Speaking ahead of the start of court proceedings, Zille said Hlophe's appointment to the JSC sows distrust in the parliamentary process.
"Someone who was impeached and dismissed by Parliament because of gross misconduct committed as a judge will now be interviewing and determining who should be judges in this and other courts in South Africa. This is an obvious and extraordinary conflict of interest.
"We believe that this is a watershed case for South Africa and will go down in history as a case that either defended the independence of the judiciary or compromised it. This is a matter that will affect anyone, whoever has a family member who appears before the court of law.”
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