FUL files complaint against John Hlophe

LEGAL advocacy group Freedom Under Law has filed a complaint of gross misconduct against Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe with the Judicial Services Commission

The complaint comes exactly two years after Justices of the Constitutional Court lodged its first complaint against Hlophe with the JSC, which regulates the conduct of judges. The Justices alleged that Hlophe attempted to influence two of them to rule in favour of President Jacob Zuma, who was facing corruption charges related to the arms deal.

In its application, FUL, led by retired judge Johann Kriegler, alleges that Hlophe is guilty of "gross misconduct" and that he made "scandalous public utterances" about the Constitutional Court justices in his response to their complaint.

This, FUL said, made him guilty of bringing the country's justice system into disrepute. The FUL application is endorsed by businesswoman and academic Mamphela Ramphela. In her affidavit she said the group believed Hlophe was "not fit to serve the public as a judge".

Hlophe's lawyer, Barnabus Xulu, said they had applied for state funding to mount a legal challenge.

"We've brought the application for funding so that we will be able to look into the matter and advise the client properly," Xulu said.