Pretoria High Court Judge Nkola Motata has taken leave of absence from duty, Judge President Bernard Ngoepe said in a statement on Tuesday.
Ngoepe met with Motata on Tuesday following Motata’s arrest in Hurlingham, Johannesburg, on Friday, allegedly for drunk driving.
”The judge has, in the interests of justice, asked for a leave of absence from duty,” Ngoepe said.
He has granted the leave from next week Monday until the end of February.
Motata is scheduled to appear in court on February 27 and his leave has been granted to the end of February.
”Thereafter the situation will be looked at again,” Ngoepe said.
Motata was arrested on Friday night after driving through a garden wall in his Jaguar.
He was allegedly drunk and abusive and resisted arrest.
Six audio clips and edited transcripts purporting to be exchanges between Motata, the homeowner and metro police appear on the Sunday Times website.
In them a man identified as Motata says: ”I know the law … Ja, you mustn’t look at me as a black man … Anybody who insults me, I say fuck you.”
The homeowner, who said eight people were present, tells him: ”It is my opinion that you are drunk, yes, because you smell of alcohol, you’ve driven through my wall … You don’t walk straight.”
In a fourth clip, the man said to be Motata comments: ”If people take my keys why should I cooperate with you … I don’t have to cooperate. No, no. Fuck you. I say, I don’t have to cooperate.”
He goes on to say: ”… Whether I’m drunk or sober, one thing that remains: I’ve got to pay … Honestly, I want to give you my particulars and I want to pay for the damage I’ve done to you.”
Motata allegedly resisted arrest and was put in a police car by five metro police officers, the Sunday Times reported.
Minnaar said two women officers on the scene called for assistance after the judge became uncooperative. — Sapa