Parly welcomes dismissal of Judge Hlophe's bid to halt impeachment vote against him
Hlophe had approached the Western Cape High Court seeking an urgent interdict staying the vote, pending a Constitutional Court challenge he’s launched against the process Parliament’s followed. It was, however, struck from the roll on Wednesday morning.
FILE: Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe. Picture: GCIS
JOHANNESBURG - Parliament has welcomed the dismissal of Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe’s application for an urgent interdict halting Wednesday’s Parliamentary vote on his impeachment.
Parliament will on Wednesday afternoon vote on whether to remove Hlophe from office after the Judicial Service Commission found him guilty of gross misconduct for improperly attempting to influence two Constitutional Court justices.
At the same time, it will also vote on whether to unseat retired Gauteng High Court Judge Nkola Motata, who’s been found guilty of the same charge in a separate matter.
Hlophe had approached the Western Cape High Court seeking an urgent interdict staying the vote, pending a Constitutional Court challenge he’s launched against the process Parliament followed.
It was, however, struck from the roll.
READ: Parly's impeachment vote against Hlophe, Motata 'significant' & 'historic' - Judges Matter
Parliamentary spokesperson Moloto Mothapo: "We note that the High Court has vindicated the National Assembly and confirmed that the National Assembly has a duty to perform its functions unless ordered otherwise by a court of law.
"The court further confirmed that it would be undesirable for the court to stop a constitutional process - interfere with the NA’s processes in such circumstances," he said.