The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

"The Freedom Front Plus welcomes the fact that the Cape Judge President, John Hlope, was not included in the shortlist of candidates to be considered for appointment to the Constitutional Court. Should he have been included in the shortlist, he would have sunk the credibility of the appointment process of judges. The Judicial Services Committee (JSC) has with the exclusion of Hlope from the list started regaining the trust of the public," Dr. Corné Mulder, Parliamentary Spokesperson of Justice and Constitutional Development for the Freedom Front Plus says.

The controversy created by the actions and comments the past number of years by Hlope, would have damaged the credibility of the Constitutional Court with his appointment to the court. Because the Constitutional Court is the highest institution which has to defend the Constitution and therefore also the democracy of the country, the reputation and actions of judges who serve in this court have to be incorruptible.

"The exclusion of Hlope should now make the choice of President Zuma as to who should be appointed as judges to the Constitutional Court easier and more credible. If Hlope's name was included in the shortlist, the controversy surrounding him would have spilled over to the Presidency. The FF Plus however still calls on the President to only take the merit of the candidates on the shortlist into account and not to be lead by any political considerations. It remains the responsibility of all South Africans and in particular the President, to protect the Constitution and the institutions which serve the Constitution," Dr. Mulder added.