Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng has come out strongly against corruption and “capture” allegations against the judiciary.
He was briefing the media on Friday about these claims, which have been made by certain anonymous social media accounts.
He said his office will approach National Commissioner of Police to uncover identities of those making these “gratuitous” allegations.
Only a sworn enemy of our constitutional democracy would make allegations so grave against the judiciary without the evidence to back them up.
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng.
CR17, Bidvest and Ace Magashule
Mogoeng cited some of the allegations that have surfaced on social media and in one instance, at the state capture commission of inquiry.
He said some have alleged that judges have received money from the CR17 campaign.
CR17 campaign propelled President Cyril Ramaphosa to the presidency of the African National Congress (ANC) in 2017.
Mogoeng also cited allegations that private company Bidvest doles out money to certain judges.
He also referred to Mxolisi Dukwana’s allegation that ANC Secretary General Ace Magashule’s patronage network extended to Free State’s judiciary.
Dukwana, who was a Free State MEC when Magashule was Premier, made the claim at the state capture inquiry in August.
Many were not surprised to hear that [Magashule] is taking his defamation case against the [African Transformation Movement] to the Bloemfontein High Court. Magashule knows he won’t lose a case in Bloemfontein.
Mxolisi Dukwana
Show your identities
Mogoeng said he had asked judicial officers across the country about the claims and they told him they are false.
In the absence of evidence, he believed the officers, he said.
The Chief Justice challenged those making the allegations to come forward with concrete evidence and be prepared to testify in a court of law.
Anybody with evidence to support these confidence-damaging allegations that any judge is corrupt or has been captured must stop hiding behind fictional identities or names in media platforms.
Mogoeng Mogoeng
Mogoeng was accompanied by Judge President Dunstan Mlambo of the Pretoria High Court and Judge President C Musi from the Office of the Chief Justice in Midrand.