Freedom Under Law (FUL) welcomes Parliamentary Portfolio Committee decision on Judges Hlophe and Motata

22 November 2023

Freedom Under Law (FUL) welcomes the decision of Parliament’s portfolio committee on Justice and Constitutional Development to refer the findings of gross misconduct against Judge President Hlophe and Judge Motata to the full National Assembly to vote on their potential removal from office.

The complaints against the two judges have dragged on interminably and reflect poorly on the system for holding judges to account for misconduct. The portfolio committee is to be commended for dealing with the matter promptly, and for not allowing its process to be waylaid by delaying tactics.

The matters now proceed to the National Assembly, which must adopt a resolution calling for the judges’ removal from office. This resolution must be supported by a vote of at least two-thirds of its members. We urge the National Assembly to ensure that it, too, deals with the matters expeditiously, and accord them the attention that matters of such gravity deserve.

Issued by Judith February, Executive director, FUL, 22 November 2023