By Zukile Majova
Political Editor
John Hlophe, the deputy president of the Umkhonto Wesizwe party and impeached former Western Cape High Court judge president, has resigned from the Judicial Service Commission.
However, this does not mean the MK party can immediately field another candidate to represent it on the JSC.
This is because the National Assembly must approve a new nominee.
Parliament is on a break now, with parliamentarians busy with constituency work around the country.
Hlophe was one of six MPs chosen by parliament to attend the JSC interviews that started on Monday.
He was impeached by parliament before joining the MK party and becoming its leader in parliament.
The DA approached the Western Cape High Court to object to an impeached judge sitting on the JSC’s interviewing panel.
At least three court applications – by the DA and the NGOs Corruption Watch and Freedom Under Law – objected to Hlophe’s nomination, while AfriForum lodged a complaint with the Constitutional Court.
The high court issued an interim ruling blocking Hlophe’s participation in the JSC hearings.
Hlophe’s troubles with the law date back to 2008, when two Constitutional Court justices complained that Hlophe tried to influence them regarding the corruption case of former president Jacob Zuma.
Pictured above: John Hlophe.
Source: X