AFRICA MIRROR REPORTER
SOUTH Africa’s chief justice Mogoeng Mogoeng is in the middle of battle to protect his credibility.
Mogoeng yesterday announced that he has lodged an appeal against a historic ruling, by the Judicial Conduct Committee (JCC), which ordered him to apologise for his pro-Israel comment made during an event held in June last year.
In an unprecedented move, the JCC, chaired by retired Deputy Judge President Phineas Mojapelo, ordered Mogoeng to retract his comments and make a public apology. The JCC provided a draft of the apology and ordered Mogoeng to read and to publicly release it.
The events followed Mogoeng’s remarks, at a March 5 webinar hosted by the Jerusalem Post, where he said he was under an obligation, as a Christian, to love Israel and pray for Jerusalem’s peace, which means that country’s peace.
Following his remarks, the #Africa4Palestine, the South African Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Coalition (SABDS) and the Women’s Cultural Group lodged a complaint with the JCC.
In s statement, the JCC said: “The Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa, Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng has signified his intention to appeal the decision made by Mojapelo DJP, a member of the Judicial Conduct Committee in the complaints lodged by Africa4Palestine, SABDS Coalition and the Women’s Cultural Group.
“The JCC will in due course determine the date on which the appeal would be heard by at least three of its members. Members of the JCC who are eligible to hear the appeal are Deputy Chief Justice R M M Zondo, Justices D H Zondi, N Dambuza and M Victor.”
