Judges Matter raises concerns over Julius Malema’s remarks about judicial officers

Judiciary watchdog Judges Matter says criticism of judicial officers by EFF leader Julius Malema could undermine public confidence in the courts.

The concerns come after the Helen Suzman Foundation filed papers in the Western Cape High Court seeking to compel Parliament to determine whether Malema remains fit to serve on the Judicial Service Commission.

The application follows Malema’s five year prison sentence linked to the discharge of a firearm at a public event in 2018. That sentence is currently under appeal.

Judges Matter research and advocacy officer Mbekezeli Benjamin said the foundation argues that Malema’s public statements, including the guilty finding and other past ethical violations, make him unsuitable to continue serving on the Judicial Service Commission. Benjamin added that Malema’s statements undermine public trust in the judiciary and violate section 165 of the Constitution.

The Economic Freedom Fighters has condemned the court application. In a statement, the party described the legal challenge as part of a broader effort to delegitimise voices within the Judicial Service Commission that question accountability and transformation in the judiciary. The EFF also accused the Helen Suzman Foundation of targeting Malema personally and said it would not be intimidated by what it called court actions backed by liberal pressure groups.