Cape Forum opposed to Hlophe’s JSC nomination
3 July 2024
The civil rights organisation Cape Forum says it will be an absolute shame and a dishonour to the country’s legal system if John Hlophe, impeached Judge President of the Western Cape, is appointed to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
Heindrich Wyngaard, Executive Chairperson of Cape Forum, says it was bad enough that Hlophe was just sworn in as an MP of the Jacob Zuma-led MK party. “Obviously, one cannot do anything about it if questionable characters are appointed by a party to act as a parliamentary representative of such party,” he says. “However, civil society has an obligation to make its voice heard clearly when nominations for appointment to a critical institution, such as the JSC, are made.”
Cape Forum welcomes the fact that a number of other organisations, such as Freedom Under Law, Casac, Judges Matter, Defend our Democracy and the Helen Suzman and Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, have also already in a letter to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Thoko Didiza objected to Hlophe’s JSC nomination. Cape Forum is also writing their own complaint about this to the Speaker.
Wyngaard says Hlophe would never have ended up in parliament if it was not for the fact that he was placed in a state of accusation as Judge President of the Western Cape and by pres. Cyril Ramaphosa was removed from the judiciary after his conviction for improper conduct.