Drunk-driving judge Motata still getting salary after nine years

1 November 2016

After nine years, judge Nkola Motata, who was found guilty of drunken driving, is still on special leave with full pay and has cost the taxpayers of South Africa nearly R14 million since the start of his special leave in January 2007, Dr. Corné Mulder, FF Plus chief whip, says.

The minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Michael Masutha, has confirmed this information in a reply to a parliamentary question of Dr. Mulder.

Motata was found guilty of drunk driving by the Johannesburg High Court in 2009 and was sentenced to a fine of R20 000 or twelve months imprisonment.

It now appears that the legal process against Motata has still not been finalised and that it was extended in the past nine years with various legal actions based on technicalities by the suspended judge. The matter is currently before the Judicial Conduct Tribunal.

Minister Masutha stated in his reply that judge Motata’s special leave is not subject to him paying back a portion of his salary should the Judicial Conduct Tribunal find him guilty of gross misconduct.

Dr. Mulder says it is a disgrace that the process was allowed to be indefinitely protracted while the public of South Africa has to pay to allow a guilty person to live in luxury.

“The FF Plus will now put pressure on the Judicial Conduct Tribunal to finalise this matter without delay, and insists that Motata pays back a part of his salary,” Dr. Mulder said.

Issued by Corne Mulder, FF Plus Chief Whip, 1 November 2016