Cape Town – The South African Justice and Correctional Services Department has rejected claims by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) that Minister Ronald Lamola attempted to influence the appointment of acting judges to the Constitutional Court.
This came after acting Chief Justice Raymond Zondo and Lamola revealed on Friday during the interviews for the country’s next Chief Justice that they exchanged letters and phone calls last year.
In one of the letters, according to Times Live, Lamola asked Zondo to consider appointing Dunstan Mlambo to the Constitutional Court as an acting justice while the nominations process was under way.
The EFF was shocked by these revelations, and as a result, a verbal spat between the party’s leader, Julius Malema, and Lamola erupted.
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The EFF further issued a statement saying that it found these revelations “shocking, unethical and deplorable” and as a result, it would file a complaint against Zondo to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and further ask for the dismissal of Lamola.
“We can no longer turn a blind eye to this bias and unethical conduct. We cannot act like judges are not captured by politicians due to their ambitions for judicial promotions. The EFF will file a complaint against Zondo with the JSC for referral to the Judicial Conduct Committee so he is held accountable.
“Finally, we call on the dismissal of minister Lamola from cabinet for what is clearly a successful and unethical act to have judge Mlambo appointed as acting judge of the Constitutional Court. The EFF will also consider reporting both Ramaphosa and Lamola to the police, SCOPA and the Public Protector,” said the EFF in a statement.
Read the EFF’s full statement below:
EFF Statement on Judicial Capture and Manipulation By ANC Government pic.twitter.com/dQKQvIxcin
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) February 5, 2022
In response, the Justice and Correctional Services Department spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri said in a statement: “The Ministry of Justice has noted what appears to be a deliberate distortion of the appointment process of acting judges of the Constitutional Court. The insinuation that the minister sort to enhance the appointment ability of a certain candidate, by suggesting that, the candidate be appointed to act in a vacancy in the Constitutional Court is designed to undermine confidence in the Judiciary.”
Phiri continued: “The conspiracy is not borne out by the facts, or the law. It is for this reason that the Minister did not hesitate to share all the relevant letters with the Judicial Service Commissioners. The process to appoint acting justices for the Constitutional Court occurred well before”.
Read the justice department full statement below:
Media Statement
For Immediate Release
Appointment of Acting Judges Distortion
5 February 2022 pic.twitter.com/QMqSGD6ZGS
— Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services ?? (@Min_JCS) February 5, 2022
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Compiled by Sinothando Siyolo
