Poor show at judges hearing

A SINGLE Supreme Court of Appeal judge and two Bloemfontein residents were the only people at a public hearing on judicial conduct and judges' disclosure of interests held in the city yesterday.

They were joined by two members of the National Council of Provinces ad hoc committee in the hearing at the Fourth Raadzaal.

Appeal Judge Robert Nugent asked committee chairman Toenka Matila whether anybody had been informed about the sitting, as he had been told about on Monday.

Matila said as far as he was aware the Supreme Court of Appeal was notified about the committee's meeting.

Nugent said the short notice resulted in judges not being able to attend.

"Many wanted to be here," Nugent told Matila and committee member Denis Joseph. He said judges were not against any disclosure of their interests.

"We accept, with some reluctance, some disclosures," he said.

Nugent submitted a document on the matter, compiled by judges, and indicated the judiciary had not just complained, but made proposals to remove defects in the draft regulations.

The judge said since the document was handed to the state no one had made efforts to discuss it with the judiciary.