By Zukile Majova
The Western Cape High Court has stopped MK Party deputy president John Hlophe from participating in interviews for future judges.
This ruling follows an application by the DA to block Hlophe, who was one of six MPs chosen by parliament for the upcoming Judicial Service Commission (JSC) interviews.
Hlophe, the former Judge President of the Western Cape High Court, was recently impeached by parliament before joining the MK Party and becoming its leader in parliament.
The DA argued that an impeached judge should not be allowed to serve on the JSC panel. Other groups, including Corruption Watch and Freedom Under Law, also objected to Hlophe’s nomination, while AfriForum filed a complaint with the Constitutional Court.
The court’s interim ruling blocks Hlophe’s nomination until the Constitutional Court reaches a decision on the matter. The court agreed with the DA that Hlophe’s presence at the October 2024 JSC interviews could cause significant harm.
Hlophe and the MK Party have been ordered to pay the DA’s legal costs in this case.
Hlophe’s legal troubles date back to 2008, when two justices accused him of trying to influence them in a case related to Jacob Zuma’s corruption charges.
Pictured above: John Hlophe.
Source: X
