Parliament marks historical first as it impeaches 2 high court judges
Both judges had been waging protracted battles with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) over separate findings of gross misconduct for the past 15 years.
FILE: Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe. Picture: GCIS
CAPE TOWN - In a historical first for Parliament, it on Wednesday resolved to impeach, not one, but two high court judges.
After losing an urgent legal bid to stop the vote against him, Western Cape High Court Judge President John Hlophe was first on the chopping block.
Three hours later, retired Gauteng High Court Judge Nkola Motata suffered the same fate after several disruptions by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
Both judges had been waging protracted battles with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) over separate findings of gross misconduct for the past 15 years.
Judge Hlophe has not only been the longest-serving head of a high court division, he’s also become the first judge to be impeached in the democratic era.
Despite the EFF, AIC, PAC and Al Jama-ah objecting, 307 members voted in favour of his removal.
He was accused of trying to improperly influence two Constitutional Court judges in a case involving former president, Jacob Zuma.
Meanwhile, 76-year-old Motata also got the chop in connection with a 2007 drunk driving incident that led to a racist tirade.
This despite the EFF’s Busisiwe Mkhwebane objecting on behalf of the party.
"Can we then let Judge Motata in his misjudgment, in that particular process, be left to enjoy his retirement at home. I mean he’s an old age person now."
The House resolved by 296 votes to 1 to impeach Motata, after EFF MPs were evicted one by one from the House for disobeying instructions from the chairperson.
The president will now be faced with the judges’ final removal.