Cape Judge President John Hlophe allegedly told a Constitutional Court judge that he was ”our last hope” when he allegedly tried to influence him into favouring African National Congress president Jacob Zuma in his upcoming case, Business Day reported on Thursday.
The newspaper reported that this allegation was made in Chief Justice Pius Langa’s submission, made on behalf of all the Constitutional Court Judges to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
Business Day reported that the full text of the complaint sets out the Constitutional Court judges’ case against Hlophe, whom they say tried to influence two of the court’s judges.
Business Day said it was in possession of documents that detailed Chief Justice Langa’s submission.
”Sesithembele kinina [you are our last hope],” Hlophe is alleged to have said to Acting Judge Chris Jafta, the newspaper reported.
The newspaper reported that Hlophe approached Jafta at the end of March and Justice Bess Nkabinde on April 23 2008.
In Hlophe’s meeting with Nkabinde, it was alleged that he told her ”he had a mandate to act as he was doing”, and that the ”privilege issue” in the Zuma cases ”had to be decided properly”, Business Day reported. — Sapa