Judicial Conduct Tribunal against Judge Makhubele set to kick off on Tuesday
The four-day Judicial Conduct Tribunal against Judge Tintswalo Annah Makhubele, based on complaints from activist group #UniteBehind, is expected to begin on Tuesday.
Makhubele appeared before the state capture commission of inquiry nearly three years ago, over allegations levelled against her while she was chairperson of the interim board at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa).
The complaint, which was lodged with the Judicial Service Commission, relates to Makhubele’s conduct when she allegedly went against the advice of the rail agency’s legal department in the failed multi-million-rand settlement deal involving controversial company Siyaya DB.
At the time Prasa’s head of legal, state capture whistleblower Martha Ngoye, approached the courts on an urgent basis to reverse an order to pay the company, owned by corruption-accused businessman Makhensa Mabunda, a whopping R56 million.
In April 2018 the High Court in Pretoria granted Prasa the urgent interdict to halt the dubious payment.
The civic organisation also accuses Makhubele of breaching the separation of powers by serving as Prasa chairperson while she was a judge.
On Monday #UniteBehind, supported by Defend Our Democracy and the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, is expected to brief the media about the three-person tribunal, which will be led by retired former Judge President of the KwaZulu-Natal High Court Achmat Jappie, retired Judge Seun Moshidi, and advocate Noxolo Maduba-Silevu.
Makhubele has previously denied any wrongdoing.
