Tribunal finds Judge Mushtak Parker guilty of dishonesty over Hlophe assault claims

THE Judicial Conduct Tribunal has found Judge Mushtak Parker guilty of dishonesty and gross misconduct after it emerged that he provided contradictory statements regarding an alleged assault by former Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe.

- THABO MAKWAKWA

The tribunal, chaired by retired Judge President Bernard Ngoepe, delivered a damning verdict, stating that Parker's actions violated the standards expected of a judicial officer.

The tribunal examined two complaints against Judge Parker, both centered on allegations of misconduct involving dishonesty.

The first complaint, lodged on March 23, 2020, by ten Western Cape High Court judges, accused Parker of lying under oath about being physically assaulted by Hlophe in his chambers on February 25, 2019.

Parker initially deposed an affidavit claiming he had been shoved and assaulted by Hlophe, an account supported by affidavits from other judges.

However, in a subsequent affidavit a year later, Parker retracted his earlier version, asserting that no assault had occurred.