Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe on Tuesday denied mentioning IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi or the Zulu king in an interview with the Mail & Guardian.
”I never uttered the names of the Prince of KwaPhindangene [Buthelezi] and of His Majesty [King Goodwill Zwelithini] with this mouth of mine,” said Hlophe in an open letter to Buthelezi.
In the M&G interview — at a popular African restaurant in Cape Town on August 5 — Hlophe said that although it was Zuma’s prerogative to appoint the next chief justice, he believed that the appointment of Constitutional Court Judge Sandile Ngcobo as a ”stop-gap” chief justice would give ”his [Zuma’s] enemies a chance to regroup”.
”I may get killed — I’m not bullet-proof,” Hlophe was quoted as saying.
He then cited Zwelethini, who had been sent into lengthy exile for his own safety after his uncle, Buthelezi, displayed regal ambitions.
”uBaba [father, as Zuma is known by his supporters] knows that they [his enemies] want him behind bars. But he must decide who he wants as the next chief justice,” Hlophe said.
Hlophe said he was consulting his lawyers about this matter as ”it dazed my head with shock, as it makes me a careless Zulu”.
”I apologise very sincerely for the wrong impression which may have been created because of this newspaper report.
”I will always respect you, Shenge, even when they try to pit us against each other.”
M&G editor Nic Dawes said on Wednesday: ”It is not unusual for people to say things at a gathering of friends that they regret when it appears in the cold light of print. Sello and I have discussed the story at length, and the Mail & Guardian stands by it. We have offered Judge Hlophe right of reply, and sincerely hope that he avails himself of it.”