STATEMENT: JUDGE JOHN HLOPHE
2021-05-04
The FW de Klerk Foundation is shocked – but not surprised – by recent comments about South Africa’s judiciary made by Western Cape High Court Judge President, John Hlophe.
The FW de Klerk Foundation is shocked – but not surprised – by recent comments about South Africa’s judiciary made by Western Cape High Court Judge President, John Hlophe.
The FW de Klerk Foundation welcomes the immediate suspension of the ruling party’s secretary general, Ace Magashule, as well as other ANC members facing criminal charges – particularly corruption or other serious crimes.
The FW de Klerk Foundation agrees with President Ramaphosa’s recent statement that South Africa’s democratic transition presents an example for the resolution of intractable problems everywhere – including the current conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
Judge Jody Kollapen is one of eight candidates who are being interviewed this week by the Judicial Service Commission to fill two vacancies on the Constitutional Court. In the course of his interview he is reported to have said that “in the transition to democracy, South Africans had perhaps focused too much on reconciliation and not enough on transformation.” He added that “reconciliation could not be achieved without transformation – without all South Africans accessing the economy.”
The FW de Klerk Foundation has taken note of the differing manner in which the Judicial Services Commission of South Africa (JSC) appears to investigate complaints against members of the judiciary.
In the uncertain circumstances created by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, it is often hard for all of us to find courage, inspiration and – perhaps most importantly – hope.
The FW de Klerk Foundation welcomes the strong reaction of the Zondo-Commission in responding to Jacob Zuma’s statements that he will not obey a summons to appear before the State Capture Inquiry. The Commission (the State Capture Inquiry) is on record as having stated that such an act by the former President showed that he considered himself to be ‘above the law and the Constitution’.
In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic South Africa faces a number of critical challenges – including deteriorating race relations, rampant corruption, growing inequality and a failing economy.
The FW de Klerk Foundation welcomes the Western Cape Education Department’s finding that it could find no evidence of racism at Brackenfell High School’s recent matric function.