By Phenyo Selinda
Johannesburg – The former Western Cape Judge President, John Hlophe, has been appointed as the chief whip of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) led by Jacob Zuma. This comes after Hlophe became the first judge to be impeached in democratic South Africa.
MKP’s Rise to Prominence
Despite securing 58 seats in the last elections, the MK Party, initially boycotted the first parliamentary sitting and the swearing-in ceremony of its members. The party alleged electoral malpractice and claimed they had garnered more votes than reported. Former President Jacob Zuma’s declaration that he would neither campaign for nor vote for the ANC significantly contributed to the MK Party’s unexpected rise, propelling them to the third-largest political party in the country, with over 2.3 million votes. Their 14.66% vote share allowed them to edge out the EFF and gain a stronghold in KwaZulu-Natal.
Internal Restructuring and Appointment of Hlophe
Leaked correspondence reveals that the MKP is undertaking significant internal restructuring to streamline its administrative and financial operations. In a letter addressed to all caucuses, party secretary-general Arthur Zwane confirmed Hlophe’s appointment as the national chief whip.
Zwane stated:
“Given this critical stage of our party’s development and the imperative to establish a robust framework for our operations, the National Office has resolved to centralize certain key responsibilities and roles temporarily.”
This centralization includes financial management, procurement processes, and human resource activities to ensure compliance and stability as the party lays its groundwork for upcoming local government elections.
The Impeachment of Hlophe
Judge Hlophe’s removal from judicial office was a significant event in South Africa’s legal history. President Cyril Ramaphosa, in accordance with Section 177 of the Constitution, removed Hlophe following a National Assembly resolution.
The resolution was supported by 305 MPs, including members of the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), with only 27 MPs, primarily from the EFF, opposing the motion.
The allegations against Hlophe date back to 2008 when Constitutional Court justices accused him of attempting to influence their decisions on cases involving former President Jacob Zuma.
The Judicial Conduct Tribunal concluded that Hlophe’s actions violated Section 165 of the Constitution by attempting to improperly influence Constitutional Court justices, thereby undermining public confidence in the judicial system.
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