Breytenbach says WC Judge President Hlophe deserves no mercy

JOHANNESBURG - Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Glynnis Breytenbach says Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe deserves no mercy.

Parliament is on Wednesday undertaking a first-of-its-kind vote on the removal from office of Hlophe and retired Gauteng High Court Judge Nkola Motata.

They’ve both been found guilty of gross misconduct. Hlophe for his attempt to improperly influence two Constitutional Court justices in a case involving former president Jacob Zuma.

And Motata for offensive comments he made after he crashed into someone’s wall and for advancing a defence he knew was untrue that he was not drunk at his subsequent criminal trial.

Proceedings got under way on Wednesday afternoon, with the vote on Hlophe up first.

They kicked off with various members of Parliament including Breytenbach addressing the house.

"Hlophe’s hoisted by his own petard. He deserves no sympathy in the vote now before this house. He has done great damage to the administration of justice, especially in his own division. And his antics have undermined the rule of law. He has tainted the image of the entire bench and it will take a long time to eradicate the odour of his antics."

Hlophe had approached the courts for an urgent interdict halting the vote but his case was struck from the roll.

Breytenbach says this move is evidence that Hlophe is not fit to be a judge.

"He was always fighting a losing battle but in doing so he has underscored the fact that he cares nothing at all for the judiciary, its image or its integrity. He has again placed his own narrow personal interests above those of the South African people. He has demonstrated again that he’s wholly unsuitable to be a judge."