JSC urged to act swiftly on misconduct against Judges

JOHANNESBURG - The Judicial Service Commission says it welcomes Parliament's decision to impeach Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe and retired judge Nkola Motata.

The JSC says while the two judges played a huge role in the country's judiciary, the cases and evidence against them could not simply be ignored.

Hlophe and Motata are the only judges to be impeached since democracy.

They were found guilty of gross misconduct in separate cases.

Judges Matter has urged the Judicial Service Commission to expedite cases of misconduct against judges.

Hlophe and Motata were impeached for misconduct dating back to 2007 and 2008 respectively, but the process to remove them from office took a very long time.

Meanwhile, the Law Society of South Africa has mixed emotions about Hlope's impeachment.

The society says while it respects Parliament's decision and the rule of law, Hlophe's offence deserved a lesser punishment.