The Judicial Conduct Appeals Committee has concurred with the Judicial Conduct Committee’s (JCC) decision to request Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng to issue an unconditional apology for his pro-Israel comments.
Mogoeng appealed the JCC’s decision and refused to apologise.
The Judicial Conduct Committee found him guilty following a complaint laid by the South African Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Coalition, Africa4Palestine and Women’s Cultural Group.
He made the pro-Israel comments at a webinar that an Israeli newspaper the Jerusalem Post has hosted in June 2020.
In a statement released, the majority of the appeals committee confirms the findings by Judge Phineas Mojapelo that Mogoeng breached Article 14(2)(a) of the Judicial Code of Conduct by involving himself in extra-judicial activities which are incompatible with the confidence and the impartiality of Judges.
The Appeals Committee says Mogoeng should issue an unconditional apology for becoming involved in political controversy through his utterances at the online webinar.
It says a copy of the apology must be released by Mogoeng to the Office of the Chief Justice and the media within 10 days of this decision.
Chief Justice Mogoeng ordered to apologise for pro-Israel comments:
