National Assembly to vote on Hlophe, Motata’s fate on 21 Feb

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The National Assembly (NA) will vote on the fate of Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe and retired Judge Nkoala Motata on February 21.

This came out during a meeting of the National Assembly Programming Committee.

Last year, Parliament’s Justice and Correctional Services committee recommended that Hlophe and Motata be impeached after being found guilty of gross misconduct by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

The misconduct of Hlophe relates to him trying to improperly influence Justices of the Constitutional Court, while that of Motata relates to a drunk driving incident 16 years ago.

The President must remove a judge if two-thirds of the National Assembly votes in favour of removal.

Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula says currently, the matter is set for debate and voting two weeks from now.

“The matter of Hlophe, Motata, we will continue with that on 21 of February. Then the issue of voting yes, we will have manual voting.”

A legal advisor from Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Services, Dr. Barbara Loots, says currently there is no legal impediment barring the house from considering the matter.

Hlophe is challenging his impeachment in the courts.

Loots says,  “From the court papers there is no indication that Parly’s process must be halted, and accordingly, as there is no request or interdict, Parly may proceed on those matters with respect to Judge Hlophe.”

VIDEO: Analysis on Committee recommending that Judges Motata, Hlophe be removed from office: