|
Judge yourselves, Bench urged
02/11/2005 18:40 - (SA)
Cape Town - Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla said she had left the judiciary to sort out its own problems of racism as this gave the Bench the opportunity to examine itself.
Briefing reporters at parliament as part of the justice, crime prevention and security cluster of ministries, Mabandla said she purposely had not intervened.
"I have left the matter to the justices, to the leadership of the chief justice in consultation, working with the heads of court to discuss the matter.
"I am satisfied this has given the judiciary, overall, an opportunity to examine themselves and deal with what I keep repeating is a common challenge for society as a whole."
The October race row was sparked by claims that Cape Judge President John Hlophe had called attorney Joshua Greeff a "piece of white shit" after Greeff criticised the way one of Hlophe's appointees, Acting Justice Tandazwa Ndita, presided in a murder case in which he was involved.
Ceasefire declared
Hlophe had earlier complained of racism within the judiciary, leading to speculation he had been made the target of a smear campaign for speaking out against racists.
The row threatened to divide the Bench, but a ceasefire was eventually declared - after meetings behind closed doors - when Chief Justice Pius Langa said none of the protagonists wanted any further action to be taken.
Langa made the announcement in a statement issued towards the end of a three-day meeting of the judicial service commission (JSC) in Cape Town.
Many still dissatisfied
Langa said: "Those concerned adopt this attitude in the interests of the greater good of the public and in the contemplation of constructive and effective steps to stabilise relationships between the judiciary and legal profession of this province."
Many felt, however, that the issue was not satisfactorily resolved as neither party had retracted their statements.
- SAPA
|
News
