/ 23 October 2005

Judge: Racism peddled by those resisting change

Cape High Court Judge President John Hlophe said on Saturday that racism in the judiciary was peddled by those resisting transformation, South African Broadcasting Corporation radio news reported.

”These problems experienced are designed to ensure that those who do not want change, hang on to what they have. This they do because they want to control and manipulate through the judiciary,” the SABC quoted Hlope as saying.

He was speaking at a conference of the Black Lawyers Association in Vanderbijlpark.

They had ”seen it many a time” when those resisting change tried to get their way through Parliament, but failed, he said.

”Now they are trying the judiciary,” he said.

This comes amid a furore over allegations that Hlophe made racist comments to a white lawyer, and that he belittled one of his white judges.

Last week a ceasefire was declared in the Hlophe race war when Chief Justice Pius Langa said that none of the protagonists wanted any further action to be taken.

Meanwhile, the Freedom Front Plus on Saturday urged Langa ”not to sweep this kind of racism under the carpet”.

The Committee of the Heads of Court on Friday issued a report detailing the mechanisms needed to deal with racism and sexism in the judiciary.

The report read that any allegations regarding racism or sexism had to be investigated.

”The irony is that their own report says these allegations must be investigated. But, this is not being done with the Hlophe race row.

”Chief Justice Pius Langa is wrong in not ensuring these allegations are probed,” Van Heerden said. – Sapa