Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said on Monday that he hopes President Cyril Ramaphosa acts swiftly to suspend Western Cape High Court Judge President John Hlophe.

Winde, along with other commissioners of the Judicial Services Committee, voted on Monday to recommend to Ramaphosa that Hlophe be suspended after he was found guilty of gross misconduct.

In 2008, Hlophe allegedly approached two Constitutional Court judges to find in favour of then-African National Congress President Jacob Zuma, in corruption cases made against him.

Hlophe has unsuccessfully tried to challenge the findings made against him.

“This offence is very serious and given how long this saga has been dragging on, I believe it must now be concluded. The Western Cape Government deeply respects the integrity of the country’s judicial system, and by recommending to suspend the Judge President of the Western Cape High Court, we are sending a clear message: the impartiality and integrity of the justice system must be upheld at all costs because this is what is in the best interests of our country,” Winde said.