MK Party says DA trying to get court to ban Hlophe for life from serving in any other capacity
In arguments before the court on Wednesday, the party’s lawyer advocate Dali Mpofu said the case is politically motivated and is driven by hatred.
FILE: Former Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe. Picture: judgesmatter.co.za
CAPE TOWN - The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party says the Democratic Alliance (DA) is attempting to get the Western Cape High Court to impose a lifetime ban on its parliamentary leader John Hlophe from serving in any other capacity again.
In arguments before the court on Wednesday, the party’s lawyer advocate Dali Mpofu said the case is politically motivated and is driven by hatred.
The MK Party is opposing an application by the DA, Freedom Under Law and Corruption Watch in which it wants to bar the National Assembly from designating Hlophe to the Judicial Service Commission.
READ: Hlophe says his impeachment has no bearing on his eligibility to sit on JSC
Mpofu said the DA only brought this case because it lost a democratic vote in parliament and had it won, it would not have challenged Hlophe’s nomination by his party to serve as one of six MPs to represent the house.
The party has told the court there’s no constitutional provision that bars Hlophe from serving on the body that interviews candidates for the bench and makes recommendations to the president.
“The judiciary can’t second guess Parliament whether those people were drinking something or whatever, that’s too bad. You are not allowed to second guess Parliament’s choice, and that’s why this case is a fallacy. Because this case is based on the following lie. I can’t put it any lower than that. That all the National Assembly did was just close its hands, and then say well MK has put Dr Hlophe - so he must go to the JSC. No.”