What is John Hlophe’s legal position?

John Hlophe

Former Judge President of the Western Cape High Court, removed from office in 2024 after a gross misconduct finding, and later an uMkhonto weSizwe Party member of Parliament whose designation to the Judicial Service Commission was set aside by the Western Cape High Court in June 2025.

Most recent filing 5 Jun 2025Last confirmed 27 Oct 20264 sources

1. Question

   What is John Hlophe’s legal position?

2. Present position

   ClosedPresent position

   He was removed as Judge President in 2024; no successful court challenge to the removal was found.

3. Detail

   Gross misconduct finding (attempt to influence Constitutional Court justices) and removal from office

   Closed

   He was removed as Judge President in 2024; no successful court challenge to the removal was found.^{1 2}

   Authority

   Judicial Service Commission; National Assembly; Gauteng High Court; Supreme Court of Appeal

   Status as of

   2024

   History

   1. Aug 2021JSC found him guilty of misconduct after a tribunal found he improperly tried to influence Justices Bess Nkabinde and Chris Jafta in 2008 in a case involving Jacob Zuma.
   2. Jun 2022Gauteng High Court (full bench) granted him leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal.
   3. Dec 2022SCA granted a second extension, to 21 January 2023, to file appeal papers.
   4. 2024Removed from office following the gross misconduct finding (Parliament's impeachment recommendation).
   5. 18 Sep 2024Said he intended to re-file a challenge to his removal after the Constitutional Court dismissed an earlier challenge.

4. Authorities cited

   1. SecondaryJudge Hlophe given a second chance to contest his impeachmentSABC News · Dec 2022
   2. SecondaryPending new challenge to impeachment, Hlophe asks court to hold off on AfriForum's JSC challengeEyewitness News (EWN) · 18 Sep 2024

See also: Public Figure Record Verified

Revision note

27 Oct 2026 Published after review.

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