JSC to continue with interviews despite MK Party withdrawing Hlophe from body
The party announced on Monday that it would be withdrawing the impeached judge as its candidate to the JSC in the midst of a legal battle on his eligibility.
FILE: MK Party chief whip John Hlophe speaks to the media after being sworn in as an MP on 25 June 2024. Picture: Lindsay Dentlinger/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) said that it will continue with its interviews on Tuesday despite reports of the MK Party's Dr John Hlope's withdrawal from the body.
The party announced on Monday that it would be withdrawing the impeached judge as its candidate to the JSC in the midst of a legal battle on his eligibility.
While the Western Cape High Court barred Hlophe from attending the current round of interviews, on Saturday, the Johannesburg High Court also ruled that the sittings would not be tainted by his absence.
The JSC said that by the time it wrapped up its business on Monday evening, it had not been informed of Hlophe's withdrawal by the Speaker of the National Assembly.
Spokesperson, advocate Sesi Baloyi: "The position is that we are properly constituted – nothing has changed and we will carry on with the scheduled interviews for the week."
Baloyi said that once the Speaker communicated Hlophe's withdrawal with the JSC, a meeting would be called.
"Our guide is the Constitution and JSC Act and both documents do deal with matters of a commissioner not being there because they have ceased being a commissioner and we will be guided by that."
Baloyi said that as it stands, the JSC's two-week sittings will continue as planned.