Judicial Conduct Tribunal probing Parker set to hear closing arguments

JOHANNESBURG - The Judicial Conduct Tribunal against suspended Western Cape judge, Mushtak Parker, is expected to hear closing arguments in the probe against him on Tuesday.

Ten judges of the same division laid complaints against the judge following his retraction of a previous allegation and deposing of an affidavit in which he claimed former Western Cape judge president, Dr John Hlophe, assaulted him in his chambers. 

The second complaint against the suspended judge was lodged by the Cape Bar Council over his failure to disclose a deficit of R8 million in the trust account of a law firm he was connected with during his 2017 interview for judicial appointment. 

Parker was suspended in 2020 following a resolution by the Judicial Service Commission, making him the first judge to be suspended in the country’s constitutional democracy. 

During the hearing in February, several judges delivered similar testimonies, that Parker told them he was assaulted by then-Western Cape judge president, Hlophe.  
 
So bad was the assault, said Parker, that it damaged the key that was lodged in the cupboard he was allegedly shoved into. 

READ: Judicial Conduct Tribunal probing gross misconduct allegations against Parker adjourned to April

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

However, in March 2020, Parker, in a letter responding to a complaint by his colleagues, seemingly retracted his initial statement.  

The sudden U-turn shocked the colleagues he confided in, leading to the complaint. 

Parker could face impeachment if found guilty of gross misconduct.