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Judicial racism spat 'festers'
31/01/2006 22:19 - (SA)
Cape Town - Individuals fingered for racism in the judiciary were feeling aggrieved about not being allowed to defend themselves, Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla was told on Tuesday.
Parliament's justice portfolio committee chair Fatima Chohan-Khota told the minister: "I can't tell you how inundated I am - sometimes I think I am being harassed - by people who had been fingered during the racism allegations, but never got a chance to defend themselves."
The matter was continuing to fester, said Chohan-Khota.
"To allow this to happen and to allow people to feel this way cannot be right."
Mabandla, who was briefing the committee on the department's 2006 priorities, said there had been an "almost vulgar attempt" at the start of the squabble to "bring me into the thing".
Judges and lawyers were the best ones to deal with the matter as they would have first-hand knowledge of whether prejudice existed or not.
"They are the ones who should deal with it, and I hope they still are," said Mabandla.
As for people accused "inappropriately", the committee should pursue the matter as it saw fit, the minister added.
The race row, late last year, 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 over a murder case in which he was involved.
Hlophe had complained earlier of racism in the judiciary, leading to speculation he had been made the target of a smear campaign for speaking out.
A ceasefire was declared when Chief Justice Pius Langa announced that none of the protagonists wanted any further action to be taken.
- SAPA
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