South Africa’s judiciary faces populist threats

Significance

Zuma seeks also to avoid prosecution for alleged corruption related to a notorious late-1990s ‘arms deal’. Separately, a Judicial Conduct Tribunal has delivered a finding of gross misconduct against Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe.

Impacts

• Failure by the ANC-dominated legislature to impeach the tainted Public Protector would tarnish both parliament and the judiciary.
• Ramaphosa’s burgeoning control of the ANC will be tested by whether the party’s corruption-accused secretary-general steps aside next week.
• Recent politically intimidating questioning of applicants for Constitutional Court vacancies could dissuade future outstanding candidates.