The Democratic Alliance has called on the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) to intervene in the ongoing controversy over Cape Judge President John Hlophe.
Hlophe was recently accused of calling a Cape Town lawyer a ”white shit” — a claim that he has denied.
”The Hlophe racism saga with allegations, rumours, counter-allegations and denials continues to snowball and is unfortunately damaging the stature and integrity of the Western Cape Bench and Bar,” DA justice spokesperson Sheila Camerer said on Wednesday.
”Decisive action by the chief justice and the JSC is needed to bring the matter to a conclusion.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the chairperson of the General Council of the Bar, advocate Norman Arendse, denied being part of any conspiracy to discredit Hlophe.
He was responding to media reports that suggested Hlophe had deliberately tried to sabotage his fellow judge and colleague, Wilfred Thring.
According to the reports, Hlophe told Arendse that he had given a particular case to Thring in the hope he would err in his judgement and the matter would be overturned on appeal.
The case heard earlier this year saw the Western Cape department of education take the predominantly Afrikaans-speaking Mikro Primary School to court to compel it to accept English-speaking students.
Arendse had appeared for the education department, and Thring ruled against him and in favour of the school in the politically charged matter.
Attempts to get hold of Hlophe on Wednesday proved futile. However, the newspaper Die Burger quoted him as saying that the entire Thring allegation was part of a ”smear campaign” against him.
Hlophe last year made allegations of serious racism at the Cape Bench in a report to Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Brigitte Mabandla.
Arendse confirmed on Wednesday he wrote to former chief justice Arthur Chaskalson and his successor, Pius Langa, about the Thring matter in February or March of this year.
”What they do with it or did with it, is up to them, and that’s still my attitude. I’m not going to become embroiled in any media or public spat with anybody,” said Arendse.
Camerer said the JSC, the body tasked with dealing with complaints against judges, is meeting on October 17.
She said she understands Arendse’s letter is on the agenda of a heads of court meeting the day before.
”Surely it would be appropriate for Chief Justice Pius Langa to put the Arendse letter and any other complaints which may have reached him relating to the Western Cape racism row on the agenda of the JSC so that the matter can be resolved by the appropriate body,” she said. ”It should not be allowed to fester any longer.” — Sapa