What do you call a disgraced and impeached Judge President? Honourable Member. That’s what the MPs who recently impeached John Hlophe will be forced to call him when he joins them in the National Assembly as leader of the MKP.

It has been reported that in the latest twist in SA’s extraordinary election saga, Hlophe has agreed to become the parliamentary leader of Jacob Zuma’s MKP.

The MKP said ‘his reputation as an impeccable jurist and seasoned activist who believes in an African-based judicial system makes him an ideal leader for the MKP and SA at this crucial time’.

In a Sunday Times commentary, Hogarth notes that with Hlophe as the official leader of the opposition, the House is headed for some interesting battles: ‘Hogarth is most interested to know whether Hlophe will get one of the seats allocated to MPs on the JSC. Imagine him grilling some of his adversaries as they appear before the JSC seeking promotion.’

The Mail & Guardian notes that one of MKP’s 58 members elected to the National Assembly will have to give up a seat to make space for him.

Hlophe was impeached in February, with the National Assembly voting by 305 to 27 to remove him from the Bench. This came close to three years after the JSC affirmed a finding by the Judicial Conduct Tribunal that he had committed gross misconduct by raising a pending ruling relating to Zuma’s arms deal corruption case with two Constitutional Court justices.

The Cape Times reports that Hlophe is regarded as one of SA's best legal minds.

He holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge, England, a BJuris degree from the University of Fort Hare, an LLB degree from the then University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, as well as LLM and LLD degrees from the University of Cambridge.

Full Sunday Times article

Full Mail & Guardian report

Full Cape Times report