In a telling exchange, Judge Elizabeth Baartman questioned National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise's advocate about the impact of a judge being involved in the inquiry process against the Public Protector – particularly given the "attack" on the judiciary, writes Karyn Maughan.
National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise's advocate, Andrew Breitenbach, questioned Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane's challenge to the Parliament's impeachment inquiry process against her when Judge Elizabeth Baartman asked him a profoundly telling question.
A question that, arguably, illustrates painfully just how profoundly judges are being affected by ongoing hostile attacks on the integrity of the courts – and the deafening silence of structures that are meant to protect them.