Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe found guilty of gross misconduct

Western Cape Judge President, John Hlophe, has been found guilty of gross misconduct after the Judicial Conduct Tribunal announced that he had breached a provision of Section 165 of the Constitution.

In 2008, two Constitutional Court judges revealed that Hlophe tried to influence a case involving former President Jacob Zuma and French arms manufacturer, Thales.

In a statement, the Judicial Conduct Tribunal says Hlophe’s conduct seriously threatened the independence, impartiality and dignity of the Constitutional Court.

In 2008, Justices Bess Nkabinde and Chris Jafta claimed that Hlophe had sought to influence their rulings in favour of the then ANC President, Jacob Zuma who was facing trial for corruption in the Thales matter.

The Judicial Conduct Tribunal now says that Judge President Hlophe’s conduct breached the provision of section 165 of the Constitution in that he improperly attempted to influence the two Justices of the Constitutional Court to violate their oaths of office.

The tribunal says his conduct also threatened the public’s confidence in the judicial system.

The Judicial Service Commission is due to review the report’s findings.