Top judges square up against each other

Judge Siraj Desai of the Cape High Court is planning to lay a charge with chief justice Pius Langa and the judicial services commission regarding defamatory allegations apparently made by Cape judge-president Judge John Hlope about him. This follows allegations against Judge Hlope that he received up to 10-thousand rand a month from April 2002 until March 2003 from the Oasis group. Yesterday Judge Hlope admitted to the Sunday Times that he did receive such payments between 2000 and 2005 for out of pocket expenses. He also alleged that Judge Desai had used stolen documents to defame him. Judge Hlope said he had got permission to receive the additional income from former justice minister, the late Dullah Omar.

It is also reported that in 2004 Hlope granted Oasis permission to sue Judge Desai over allegedly defamatory remarks about the company made earlier.
Beeld reports that Judge Desai has denied Judge Hlope's allegations that he was behind the case, and that Judge Hlope’s statement contains several untruths. He says that since the judge-president's statements defile his integrity, he has no other choice but to refer the case to the chief judge and the judicial service commission in order to bring it to an honourable close.

Meanwhile the Democratic Alliance has issued a statement saying Judge Hlope should be asked to take leave of absence until questions about the monthly expense payments made to him by Oasis are clearly answered. DA justice spokesperson Sheila Camerer says a decision Judge Hlope made granting the company permission to sue a judicial colleague, also has to be explained. She says there is an urgent need for clarification around the latest fracas involving Judge Hlope.