Cape High Court Judge President John Hlophe has dismissed as ”utter rubbish” allegations that he racially abused a top white lawyer and told him to go back to The Netherlands.
Hlophe said on Wednesday night he had no idea where the allegations came from.
”It is absolute rubbish,” Hlophe said.
”I leave to any average South African to decide,” he said when asked if the accusations formed part of a smear campaign against him. ”I am not prepared to comment [on where the allegations come from]. I don’t know.
”I reserve my right [to take action].”
Noseweek magazine alleges that Hlophe racially abused attorney Joshua Greef in his chambers three weeks ago.
An article in the magazine claims that Hlophe summoned Greef to his chambers and called him ”a piece of white shit”.
The article says the incident was witnessed by advocate Dirk Uijs, SC, and prosecutor Christens van der Vijver.
It claimed that the incident occurred after acting Judge Tandaswa Ndita found Moegmaat Isaacs guilty of murdering his neighbour’s child, Sasha-Leigh Crook.
Greef was Isaac’s attorney and Uijs was his defence council.
Greef, according to the article, said in an interview outside the court that Isaacs (27) would seek leave to appeal the conviction because it was ”based on circumstantial evidence”.
The article said Ndita was shocked by the confidence of Uijs and Greef, and that Hlophe had come to her defence by calling the two to his chambers, where he launched into a tirade.
Shadrack Gutto, a legal expert, told the South African Broadcasting Corporation the ”sourceless” allegations against Hlophe smacked of revenge against him for being vocal against racism.
Gutto said the affected parties should have approached the established structures in seeking redress instead of worsening the incidences of racism that have plagued the judiciary.
Hlophe was instrumental in the establishment of an inquiry into racism within the judiciary after publishing a report that was critical of white judges, lawyers and advocates in the Cape division.
The report accused the white judges, lawyers and advocates of undermining black judges.
Its findings have yet to be published.
Norman Arendse, chairperson of the General Council of the Bar of South Africa, a body that represents advocates, says no complaints about the issue have been received.
Chief Justice Pius Langa, who has promised to root out racism in the judiciary, is expected to address delegates at Gauteng’s law council annual general meeting on Saturday on the transformation of the judiciary. — Sapa