Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla has officially approved Cape Judge President John Hlophe's leave application, her office confirmed yesterday.

Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla has officially approved Cape Judge President John Hlophe's leave application, her office confirmed yesterday.

"The minister approved it yesterday," her spokesman Zolile Nqayi said. "The judge president will be on leave until matters have been resolved."

This comes after two Constitutional Court judges laid a complaint with the Judicial Service Commission against Hlophe for trying to improperly influence the court's decision on raids by the Scorpions on premises of ANC president Jacob Zuma.

Meanwhile, Hlophe's lawyer, Lister Nuku, denied reports that Hlophe is to lodge a counter-complaint against the two judges, the SABC said.

Nuku said: "It is not correct to say Judge Hlophe has launched a counter-complaint, it was not correctly reported.

"He is concerned about the judges of the Constitutional Court releasing a media statement before a complaint was laid.

"That was obviously a violation of his rights and I indicated that he was now considering his options given that his rights had been violated". - Sapa