Western Cape High Court Judge President John Hlophe has given the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) and three other respondents until next week to give notice of their intention to oppose his urgent review application to set aside his impeachment.
Hlophe has approached the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg to interdict the respondents.
This comes after the JSC endorsed the decision of the Judicial Conduct Tribunal that found him guilty of gross misconduct.
It came after he allegedly tried to influence two Constitutional Court Justices, Chris Jafta and Bess Nkabinde, in a matter involving then ANC president Jacob Zuma in 2008.
The JSC is the first respondent in the matter.
Discussion on Judge President John Hlophe’s guilty verdict: Paul Hoffman:
The second, third and fourth respondents are President Cyril Ramaphosa, Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola and National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.
In his court papers, Hlophe wants to interdict the President not to suspend him.
He further wants the Speaker to stop the National Assembly from continuing with the impeachment process, pending the outcome of his review court application.
Hlophe says if the respondents have not given notice of their intention to oppose his application, an order should be granted in terms of the notice of motion on the 22nd of September.
Impeachment
In August, Parliament said the impeachment recommendation relating to Hlophe as well as the debate on expropriation without compensation will only be considered in Parliament after the November 1 Local Government Elections.
This is because Parliament will rise at the end of this week until after the election.
A special Programme Committee has resolved that the Hlophe impeachment recommendation and land expropriation matters need time for consideration.
VIDEO: SABC’s Bulelani Phillip reports on the story:
