Mogoeng apologises for Israel remarks

Mogoeng was ordered by the Judicial Conduct Committee earlier this year to issue an unconditional apology for his comments on the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

He made the remarks during an online seminar hosted by the Jerusalem Post in June, saying that he was under an obligation as a Christian to love Israel and pray for peace in Jerusalem.

The committee found that he was in breach of the Judicial code of conduct.

In a three-page letter issued on Thursday afternoon, Mogoeng said he has been forced by the law to issue the apology.

“I have over the years made orders and expected all, including presidents, to comply with them and they did. I am now forced by the law - the order of the lawfully constituted Appeal Panel of the Judicial Conduct Committee - to apologise unconditionally in terms of the prescribed apology. And because I am not above the law, I hereby apologise as ordered:

I, Mogoeng Mogoeng, the former Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa, hereby apologise unconditionally for becoming involved in political controversy through my utterances at the online seminar (webinar) hosted by the Jerusalem Post on 23 June 2020, in which I participated.”

Mogoeng retired as head of the judiciary in October.

SEE FULL STATEMENT BELOW:

Statement by Former Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng - 03 Feb 2022 by Anastasi Mokgobu on Scribd