Judge le Grange tells JSC fallout involving Hlophe impacted WC bench

CAPE TOWN - Acting Deputy Judge President of the Western Cape High Court, Andre le Grange said the fallout involving former judge president John Hlophe impacted not only the bench, but also the staff.

Le Grange has been interviewed to become the next judge president of the embattled division, the first to face a situation of an impeached judge president. 

But the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has raised concern that he and acting Judge President Patricia Goliath have not used their interim positions to smooth things over.  

While acting Judge President Goliath insisted the fallout between her and her former principal Hlophe was a personal matter that did not affect the rest of the bench, Le Grange said otherwise. 

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

"The fallout between two leaders affected us tremendously. It didn't only affect us. It also affected the support staff and we need to build on that," said le Grange.

Goliath accused Hlophe of assault against another judge while Hlophe also laid a case with the JSC, accusing Goliath of racism. In her interview, Goliath said she had gotten on well with Hlophe when she first assumed the role of his deputy in 2016, and that he was a mentor to her.

But commissioners continually grilled le Grange on the matter, saying he appeared hesitant to detail the true extent of the tensions. 

This included Chief Justice Mandisa Maya, "I get a feeling that you are tip-toeing around issues. You are not coming out clearly, being fully candid about what’s going on."

Le Grange said a decision had been taken with Goliath to hold off on talking through the tensions until a permanent Judge President has been appointed.

As a judge of 19 years, he said he had a good understanding of the division and its problems.