JOHANNESBURG – The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party wants next week’s Judicial Service Commission (JSC) sitting postponed for a few months to clarify whether John Hlophe can participate.
The Western Cape High Court recently made an interim ruling that prevented the impeached judge president from serving on the JSC.
The application was brought by the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Freedom Under Law who say Hlophe cannot serve on the same panel that impeached him.
On Friday, the Johannesburg High Court is hearing an application by the MK Party to halt the upcoming meeting of the JSC.
ALSO READ: Hlophe being on JSC will taint selection process of new judges, DA tells court
Between the 7th and 16th of October – the JSC is expected to meet for a marathon round of interviews for 54 candidate judges shortlisted to fill vacancies in the country’s courts.
Legal representative for the MK Party Dali Mpofu said the meeting cannot proceed until Hlophe’s appeal of the Western Cape High Court ruling is concluded.
“We accept for the avoidance of any doubt – if anybody wants to accuse us of saying the absence of Dr Hlophe is going to affect the quorum of the JSC. Well, I am saying here loud and clear no. What is affected is the proper constitution of the body.”
Mpofu said if the meeting goes ahead, the JSC could face a mountain of litigation for making decisions while all court processes have not been finalised.
EWN
www.ewn.co.za