Photo Credit: Reuters
A former judge in South Africa, John Hlophe, who was impeached for misconduct four months ago, has taken on a new role. He has been sworn in as a Member of Parliament (MP) for ex-President Jacob Zuma's party. This development comes as the party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), ended its boycott of the parliament formed after the 29 May elections.
Despite his impeachment as a judge following findings of misconduct, MK has appointed Dr. Hlophe to lead its team in parliament. An investigation revealed that Dr. Hlophe, who was the leading judge in the Western Cape province, attempted to influence justices at the country's top court in a case linked to Mr. Zuma. In 2008, he approached two justices to gauge their support for Mr. Zuma in a decision related to a corruption case. Dr. Hlophe denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the case was political.
MK emerged as the third-largest party in the election, playing a significant role in the African National Congress (ANC) losing its parliamentary majority for the first time in 30 years. Mr. Zuma, who campaigned for MK, had a falling out with the ANC and its leader, President Cyril Ramaphosa. The ANC has now signed a coalition deal with the second-largest party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), and eight smaller parties to form a new government.
The 58 new MK parliamentarians were sworn in more than a week after MPs from other parties. MK had boycotted parliament, alleging irregularities in the elections, although it has not provided evidence to support this claim. MK spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela clarified that ending the boycott did not signify acceptance of the election result. He praised Dr. Hlophe as an "impeccable jurist and seasoned activist" and expressed pride in appointing him as the party's parliamentary leader.
Dr. Hlophe's appointment is intriguing due to a constitutional anomaly. While the constitution bars an impeached president from holding any public office, it does not extend the same restriction to a judge. Jacob Zuma's MK remains a political wildcard in South Africa's election landscape, and the country continues to grapple with economic challenges three decades after apartheid's end.
As Dr. Hlophe was sworn in, he expressed gratitude to Mr. Zuma and the MK leadership for launching the party. He also lamented that the ANC had "completely gone astray," emphasizing that this was not the ANC they once knew. However, experts suggest that the constitutional discrepancy enabling Dr. Hlophe's parliamentary role will need addressing at some point.
The journey from impeachment to parliamentary leadership highlights the complexities of South Africa's political landscape, where historical legacies and constitutional interpretations intersect in unexpected ways.
