Crisis in judiciary - ACDP

2008-06-15 21:03

Johannesburg - The Constitutional Court and the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) need to "urgently act" on the complaints against Cape Judge President John Hlophe to restore public confidence in the judiciary, the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) said on Sunday.

"There is no doubt that we are facing a crisis of credibility in the judiciary following further developments in the Judge Hlophe controversy which, if not quickly resolved, will result in a deeper constitutional crisis," ACDP spokesperson Steve Swart said in a statement.

He called for an inquiry into whether Hlophe tried to influence Constitutional Court judges to rule in favour of African National Congress president Jacob Zuma.

"A full and transparent inquiry must be held to ascertain whether Judge Hlophe tried to improperly influence Constitutional Court judges, and whether Constitutional Court judges themselves acted improperly in releasing a public statement without a proper complaint having been filed with the JSC," he said.

Hlophe is accused of attempting to influence the Constitutional Court's decision over search and seizure raids carried out by the Scorpions on properties of Zuma and French arms manufacturing giant Thint.

- SAPA