MK Party’s Manyi scolds Ramaphosa in Parliament: Stop mocking Hlophe!

Mzwanele Manyi, uMkhonto weSizwe’s new chief whip, wants President Cyril Ramaphosa to stop adding salt to John Hlophe’s wounds.

During a question and answers session in the National Assembly on Thursday afternoon, Manyi rose on a point of order and excoriated Ramaphosa for referring to Hlophe as “judge”.

Manyi vs Ramaphosa in National Assembly

“We have a president who was part of an impeachment process that now continues to mock our party leader here in Parliament.

“The president cannot continue to keep mocking our party leader as a judge when he knows that he participated in a process to unfairly impeach him,” Manyi said in the House.

Ramaphosa had moments earlier said “honourable judge” when answering a question posed by Hlophe, the MK Party leader in Parliament.

“He impeaches him on the one side and mocks him on the other. That cannot be allowed,” Manyi said.

Ramaphosa was seemingly contrite in response to Manyi’s complaint, apologising for addressing Hlophe as “judge”.

“I would like to say to honourable Manyi and honourable Hlophe that if my reference to the title is offensive, I apologise and I withdraw,” Ramaphosa said.

Background into ‘judge’ issue

Former Western Cape judge president Hlophe was impeached by members of Parliament (MPs) in February after he was found guilty of gross misconduct by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). MPs voted 305 in favour versus 27 against.

A month later, Ramaphosa hammered the final nail in Hlophe’s career, formally removing him from judicial office.

“The president accordingly removed Judge President Mandlakayise Hlophe of the Western Cape Division of the High Court from judicial office following the National Sssembly resolution to remove Judge Hlophe as stipulated in section 177 (1) (b) of the Constitution,” Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said in a statement at the time.

The removal meant Hlophe lost the title of “judge” and guaranteed a salary, plus benefits, for life.

John Hlophe: Journey to impeachment

Trouble started for Hlophe in 2008 when he was accused by Constitutional Court (ConCourt) justices Chris Jafta and Bess Nkabinde of trying to influence them over a case involving former president Jacob Zuma, which was before the ConCourt for consideration.

Eleven ConCourt justices lodged a complaint after Jafta and Nkabinde complained that Hlophe “had visited them separately in their chambers to discuss pending judgments” involving corruption cases against Zuma, reported TimesLIVE.

They complained that he had improperly attempted to influence the outcome of the matter in favour of Zuma.

Fast forward to April 2021, when “a tribunal inquiry found Hlophe guilty of gross misconduct, a decision upheld by the JSC [without the parliamentarians] in August 2021”, reports Judges Matter.

Is Ramaphosa mocking Hlophe or is Manyi being overreacting?

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