THE Justice for Hlophe Alliance has launched an ambitious petition in a bid to see the controversial Cape judge president appointed as the country's next chief justice.
THE Justice for Hlophe Alliance has launched an ambitious petition in a bid to see the controversial Cape judge president appointed as the country's next chief justice.
The organisation has thrown its weight behind John Hlophe, who is shortlisted with 24 other judges, for four vacant posts in the constitutional court expected to be filled early next month.
The recently formed alliance's co-founder and spokesperson, Percy Gumbi, said the petition, aimed at collecting a million signatures in a month, started circulating two days ago through its structures in all nine provinces.
"We have structures in all provinces comprising a media liaison officer, convener and legal adviser. Supporters are encouraged to recruit and pass information to other people. Our target is to have a million signatures by the end of the month," he said.
Gumbi said the petition would be taken to President Jacob Zuma.
"We know that the president has to apply his own mind and follow proper procedures when appointing the suitable candidates, but we also want him to be aware of what people want and say," he said.
He said the alliance had been using various social networks to communicate its message, including Facebook, where they managed to get 250 new members within 24 hours.
"The problem is that the public has not been participating in judicial issues. We are giving the people a platform to express their views on these issues," he said.
Details of the petition can be obtained from the alliance's website.
The alliance came out in support of Hlophe a few weeks ago, naming him as the most suitable candidate to replace outgoing Chief Justice Pius Langa, despite the controversy surrounding him. Langa leaves office in October.
A hearing is under way in which Hlophe stands accused of trying to influence two judges to rule in favour of Zuma in one of his cases before he was cleared to stand in last year's general election.
support for hlophe
THE Justice for Hlophe Alliance has launched an ambitious petition in a bid to see the controversial Cape judge president appointed as the country's next chief justice.
THE Justice for Hlophe Alliance has launched an ambitious petition in a bid to see the controversial Cape judge president appointed as the country's next chief justice.
The organisation has thrown its weight behind John Hlophe, who is shortlisted with 24 other judges, for four vacant posts in the constitutional court expected to be filled early next month.
The recently formed alliance's co-founder and spokesperson, Percy Gumbi, said the petition, aimed at collecting a million signatures in a month, started circulating two days ago through its structures in all nine provinces.
"We have structures in all provinces comprising a media liaison officer, convener and legal adviser. Supporters are encouraged to recruit and pass information to other people. Our target is to have a million signatures by the end of the month," he said.
Gumbi said the petition would be taken to President Jacob Zuma.
"We know that the president has to apply his own mind and follow proper procedures when appointing the suitable candidates, but we also want him to be aware of what people want and say," he said.
He said the alliance had been using various social networks to communicate its message, including Facebook, where they managed to get 250 new members within 24 hours.
"The problem is that the public has not been participating in judicial issues. We are giving the people a platform to express their views on these issues," he said.
Details of the petition can be obtained from the alliance's website.
The alliance came out in support of Hlophe a few weeks ago, naming him as the most suitable candidate to replace outgoing Chief Justice Pius Langa, despite the controversy surrounding him. Langa leaves office in October.
A hearing is under way in which Hlophe stands accused of trying to influence two judges to rule in favour of Zuma in one of his cases before he was cleared to stand in last year's general election.
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