Malema to impeached Judge Hlophe: ‘History will absolve you’
Julius Malema says John Hlophe should not be worried because history will absolve him, following his impeachment on Wednesday.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has assured impeached former Western Cape judge president John Hlophe he would “never go to bed hungry” after his removal from office by parliament.
On Wednesday, Parliament voted for Hlophe’s removal by 305 votes to 27, ending a protracted legal battle that started in 2008. The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) found Hlophe attempted to influence Constitutional Court judges to rule in favour of former president Jacob Zuma and arms company Thint (formerly Thales) on corruption charges in March 2008.
Don't be scared my brother, history will absolve you. We should meet soon and plot the way forward but my immediate proposal is that you form something like Freedom Under Law or the Hellen Suzman Foundation and you continue to mark these racists.
— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) February 21, 2024
We can assure you that you will… pic.twitter.com/ePuYWOu94o
DON’T BE SCARED MY BROTHER HISTORY WILL ABSOLVE YOU – MALEMA
“Don’t be scared, my brother; history will absolve you. We should meet soon and plot the way forward, but my immediate proposal is that you form something like Freedom Under Law or the Helen Suzman Foundation, and you continue to mark these racists,” Malema said.
“We assure you you will never go to bed hungry, and this is inspired by the battle cry ‘an injury to one is an injury to all.’ We love you JP Hlophe, freedom is coming on May 29,” he tweeted on X.
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IMPEACHMENT HAD BEEN COMING FOR A LONG TIME – SAYS JUDGES MATTER
Judiciary watchdog Judges Matter says the impeachment of John Hlophe and Nkola Motata on Wednesday was “significant” and “historic” and had been coming for a long time.
According to Genevieve Maujean and Dimakatso Nchodu, researchers at the Judges Matter project of the Democratic Governance and Rights Unit at the Faculty of Law, University of Cape Town, the impeachment of two judges is historically significant because it’s never happened in South Africa before since 1994.
‘IMPEACHMENT VOTE IS HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT’
“No doubt, Parliament’s impeachment vote today is historically significant. But it is also symbolically important as enforcing both judicial accountability and protecting judicial integrity. In many ways, this is a low moment for the South African judiciary,” they said in a statement.
“However, it is also a vindication of South Africa’s strong constitutional mechanisms at play, a fact we should all celebrate,” they added. Parliament said the resolution on removing the two judges will now be communicated to the President.