EDITORIAL: Hlophe case a test of ANC’s will
It will boil down to whether the ANC in parliament will pull together sufficiently to concede to his removal
It’s a big week for our judiciary. Interviews for the Constitutional Court and a finding of misconduct against Western Cape judge president John Hlophe by the Judicial Conduct Tribunal for trying to irregularly influence Constitutional Court justices in a case involving former president Jacob Zuma dominated headlines.In itself, the finding by the tribunal has huge political ramifications. It is a moment of truth (one of many this year) for the ANC.But the stakes are so high precisely because it comes at a time when the judiciary is under sustained attack by people who reject the foundation of our democracy, the constitution. In particular, Zuma and his allies — such as ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule and EFF leader Julius Malema — are working hard to discredit the judiciary, with the occasional assistance of people like Magashule’s deputy, Jessie Duarte.The finding against Hlophe, of gross misconduct, is 13 years in the making. It is long overdue and it’s on point. And yet, it’s...
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