It took 16 years but South Africa has impeached a senior judge – who is John Hlophe and what went wrong?
FORMER Western Cape judge president John Mandlakayise Hlophe has become one of the first two members of South Africa’s judiciary to be impeached since the country became a constitutional democracy in 1994. A vote in parliament in late February 2024 stripped him of his title and barred him from accessing his retirement package. Judges can earn as much as R2 million (over US$100,000) a year in retirement. Narnia Bohler-Muller, a constitutional law expert, answers some questions about the impeachment. NARNIA BOHLER-MULLER, Divisional Executive, Developmental, Capable and Ethical State research division, Human Sciences Research Council What were the high and low…