Media are rumour-mongers, SC tells Hlophe hearing

THE media faced a scathing attack by senior counsel representing the
Judicial Service Commission at the South Gauteng High Court, writes Sashni Pather in The Times.

During an urgent application to allow media and the public access to a preliminary hearing into complaints lodged against Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe by the judges of the Constitutional Court, the JSC’s Advocate Bashir Vally labelled the media “rumour mongers”.

“The media are people with the unenviable talent [of being able] to turn serious debate into pornography.”

The JSC opposed the application.

Judge Frans Malan will deliver his judgment on the matter at 8am tomorrow, hours before the three-member subcommittee is due to “interview people” involved in the complaint lodged by the judges against Hlophe.

Hlophe is alleged to have attempted to influence two Constitutional Court judges in a matter related to President Jacob Zuma.

Click here to read the full report, posted on thetimes.co.za.