Hlophe and Motata removed from the bench

CAPE TOWN - The longest-serving Judge President of the High Court John Hlophe has officially been removed from the bench.

The Presidency on Wednesday announced that Hlophe and Nkola Motata have both been relieved of their duties.

This follows an unprecedented impeachment vote against them in Parliament last month.

They are the first judges in the democratic era to be impeached.

From an academic to a high court judge at the age of 36 Hlophe was first appointed to the Western Cape High Court in 1995 before heading the division as its Judge President since 2000.

A complaint that he had tried to sway Constitutional Court Judges in a Jacob Zuma case back in 2008, led to his undoing and the judicial service recommended his impeachment to parliament in 2021.

"President Cyril Ramaphosa has in accordance with section 177 (2) of the constitution, removed Judge President Mandlakayise Hlophe of the Western Cape division of the High Court from judicial office" said Presidency Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya.

The president has also removed Nkola Motata as a judge of the Gauteng High Court.

Retired in 2018, Motata made headlines in 2007 after a drunk driving incident turned into a racist tirade.

He paid a fine of over R1 million but still, the JSC recommended his removal for gross misconduct.

"The action follows the national assembly resolution to remove Judge Motata as provided for by section 177 1(b) of the constitution."

Both jurists will now lose all benefits accorded to them as judges.

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