EFF lashes out at Parliament over Hlophe impeachment resolution, calls it 'vindictive'
In addressing the House before Wednesday’s vote, former Public Protector turned EFF MP, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, said that his only sin was discussing law with his colleagues.
FILE: Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe. Picture: judgesmatter.co.za
JOHANNESBURG - The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has lashed out at the resolution taken by Parliament on Wednesday to call for Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe’s impeachment, labelling it "vindictive".
The resolution was taken by way of vote, with 305 for and 27 against.
Shortly afterward, a resolution to call for retired Gauteng High Court Judge Nkola Motata was also taken.
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Both were found to have committed gross judicial misconduct.
The finding against Hlophe relates to what the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) established was an improper attempt to sway the bench in a Constitutional Court appeal involving former president, Jacob Zuma, and the arms deal case.
The EFF has been a strong ally of Hlophe’s, though.
In addressing the House before Wednesday’s vote, former Public Protector turned EFF MP, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, said that his only sin was discussing law with his colleagues.
And in a statement released after the fact, the party described the resolution as a "vindictive act by certain elements of the National Assembly" which it said, "serves as a blatant attack on judicial independence and a betrayal of the public’s trust in the justice system".
Hlophe currently has a challenge against the process that was followed to arrive at a vote, pending before the Constitutional Court. And the EFF in its statement, too, lashed out on this front, saying the National Assembly had simply accepted the Judicial Service Commission’s findings at face value.