Hlophe accused Parker of wanting to have sexual relations with his wife, Judicial Conduct Tribunal hears

JOHANNESBURG - The reasons behind impeached Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe's alleged assault on a fellow judge in the same division have been thrust in the spotlight before the Judicial Conduct Tribunal.

According to testimony presented before the tribunal, Hlophe allegedly launched a physical attack on Judge Mushtak Parker, accusing him of trying to have sexual relations with his then-wife who worked in the same division, Judge Gayaat Salie-Hlophe.

However, Parker later retracted the allegations a year later, prompting complaints by 10 judges of the same bench.

The tribunal is investigating gross misconduct allegations against Parker over the discrepancies in statements he made in the matter.

The details of an alleged assault in the Western Cape High Court and what led to it were laid bare at the tribunal.

Parker allegedly confided in several judges in the division, including Judge Mark Sher.

"He said to me that he had tugged on the judge president’s wife’s, Judge Salie-Hlophe’s gown in the tea room. She had reported this to the judge president as a form of sexual assault or harassment. He said the judge president came into his chambers, accused him of wanting to have sexual relations with Justice Salie-Hlophe and also accused him, if I recall correctly, of being a racist."

Sher said that according to Parker’s recollection of events, Hlophe then pounced on him, injuring his back during the alleged assault.

Parker further claimed that he needed counselling following the alleged attack.

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