Some political parties voice objections to MK's Hlophe serving on JSC

CAPE TOWN - Political parties have voiced their objections to John Hlophe serving on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

This follows Parliament’s passing of the motion which nominated the MK Party parliamentary leader to represent the legislature at the JSC.

But Hlophe has received support from other parties, who said no rules precluded him from serving on the JSC, the same body that investigated him before Parliament impeached him.

Hlophe’s nomination to serve on the JSC, as expected, was not supported by many parties, including civil society.

Parties that opposed Hlophe’s nomination and made declarations in Parliament were the Democratic Alliance (DA), Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus), and African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP).

DA Chief Whip George Michalakis called the nomination political.

"Dr. Hlophe lost the status as a judge of the High Court in South Africa as a consequence of a finding of gross misconduct by the Judicial Services Commission. The decision to be taken today is furthermore not merely a political decision."

FF Plus MP, Wouter Wessels, said that Hlophe’s impeachment could not be ignored and Parliament must come up with rules to address the issue of impeached judges being able to serve on the JSC.

"There is a void in the Constitution, and it needs to be addressed."

ANC Chief Whip Mdumiseni Ntuli was more balanced in his submission, saying the House should not take a position unless its own rules have been clarified where there is a gap or lacuna.