JSC sets date for Hlope meeting
2007-08-04 14:20
Johannesburg - The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) will meet next week to consider what further action, if any, will be taken about complaints against Judge John Hlophe, the commission said on Saturday.
JSC spokesperson Marumo Moerane said the commission was scheduled to meet next Saturday at a conference centre near the Oliver Tambo airport.
Moerane said there would be two meetings next Saturday.
One would deal with the shortlisting of candidates for judicial positions.
The other would consider complaints, including those against Hlophe.
Hlophe, who is judge president of the Cape High Court, reportedly responded last month to questions put to him by the JSC about his relationship with the Oasis investment group.
Earlier this year, Oasis sued Judge Siraj Desai for alleged defamation over remarks he made at a public meeting.
Hlophe, who was a paid consultant for Oasis, controversially gave the group the permission it needed to sue Desai.
However, Desai argued that Hlophe did not have the authority to decide on the prosecution as he was compromised because of his relationship with Oasis.
Oasis abandoned its claim in May, when it emerged that Hlophe would have to testify about his decision if the case went ahead.
No evidence of wrongdoing
Last year, the JSC found no evidence of wrongdoing by Hlophe in receiving the Oasis payments, but it was asked to more fully investigate Hlophe's conduct by Cape Town advocate Peter Hazell.
In July, the Democratic Alliance asked Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla what was being done to finalise the JSC inquiry into the allegations against Hlophe.
Complaints which still had to be finalised included allegations of conduct unbecoming a judge, contempt of court, bringing the administration of justice into disrepute and gross incompetence, the DA said.
The JSC's most recent questions to Hlophe arose from documentation from the court proceedings in the Oasis case.
The JSC is the only body that may recommend the impeachment of a judge. Should the commission decide to do so, this will be the first time in South African history.
In a statement on Friday, Chief Justice Pius Langa said - in his capacity as chairperson of the JSC - that it was "inappropriate" for members of the JSC to comment on the merits of the matter or speculate on the outcome of deliberations while the matter was still under consideration.
"Accordingly, no further statements will be made to the media regarding the inquiry until the JSC has had an opportunity of meeting and deliberating on the further conduct of the matter," he said.
- SAPA