'ConCourt violated my rights'

2008-07-24 14:10

Cape Town - Cape Judge President John Hlophe has applied for an order that the Constitutional Court has violated his rights and wants to stop the Judicial Service Commission hearing against him, it emerged on Thursday.

He reportedly applied for a declaratory order, asking that the Witwatersrand Local Division find that the Constitutional Court violated his rights.

Hlophe allegedly approached some of the Constitutional Court's judges improperly while they were deciding on cases involving African National Congress president Jacob Zuma.

The court made a public statement on the matter and lodged a complaint with the JSC, which Hlophe is unhappy about. The JSC is currently considering whether to make the hearings open to the public.

Hlophe's attorney Lister Nuku initially told Sapa that he was not aware of the applications, but later said "there is an approach made to the court for certain relief", adding that he was not allowed to provide further details, or the court papers, in line with his instructions.

A request has been made for the case to be set down for August 7.

The JSC was not immediately available to comment.

- SAPA