Freedom Under Law (FUL) on Saturday said that it regretted resignations by its board members, businessman Cyril Ramaphosa, Johannesburg High Court acting Judge Kgomotso Moroka and advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza.
However the organisation defended its decision to challenge the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) decision not to probe Cape Judge President John Hlophe.
”FUL deeply regrets the resignation of acting Judge Moroka and advocate Ntsebeza from the board and Mr Ramaphosa from the International Advisory Panel,” said retired Judge Johann Kriegler through spokesperson Niall Gahan.
The decision to bring the application to the JSC, he said was taken unanimously by six of the ten directors of FUL.
Three board members including Moroka and Ntsebeza did not participate because of potential conflicts of interest.
”FUL also consulted each of the South African or former South African members of its International Advisory Panel with whom contact could be made, i.e. four out of six,” his statement read.
He defended the FUL’s decision saying that it seeks to promote and protect the rule of law in Southern Africa.
Ramaphosa and Ntsebenza resigned on Saturday, saying that they were not informed about FUL’s decision before it was publicly announced on Thursday.
”We are deeply concerned that whilst we are members of the FUL’s constituent governance structures we were not informed, let alone consulted about the organisation’s decision to embark on this legal challenge,” they said in a joint statement.
Kriegler said this week proceedings would be launched soon to set aside the JSC decision as ”irrational and unreasonable”. – Sapa