Goliath says Hlophe was her mentor during grilling at her JSC interview

CAPE TOWN - Deputy president of the Western Cape High Court Judge Patricia Goliath  said that it is untrue that the division is in disarray.

The impact of the fallout between her and former Western Cape High Court judge president John Hlophe has come under the spotlight at the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on Monday, where Goliath is vying for the top job.

Hlophe was impeached by Parliament for gross misconduct in February and is now the MK Party's Parliamentary leader.

Goliath told the JSC that she regards the dispute between her and Hlophe to have been a personal one that did not impact anyone on the Western Cape bench.

In an interview that lasted almost four hours, Goliath said she got on well with the former judge president and learnt much from him.

But that relationship soured when they laid charges against one another with the JSC.

Goliath claimed Hlophe used abusive language towards her and assaulted another judge. In a counter-complaint Hlophe accused her of racism.

"I've been fully trained by the former judge president. The former judge president was my mentor. And for me to step into the position as acting judge president, it can’t be correct that if any judge wants to create the impression that I don’t know what I'm doing, and I don't know what’s going on and judges don't have a voice."

Goliath said that over the last two years while acting in the position, she has been working hard to build collegiality in the court.

She had reintroduced judges meetings last held six years ago, and re-established the tea room for judges to meet and mingle.

"The division is not in disarray. The waters are calm. The ship is sailing. It’s not perfect, but it’s much, much better from where it has been."

The interviews continue.