Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema lambasted Chief Justice Raymond Zondo on Monday, saying he used the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture to further the interests of one African National Congress (ANC) faction against the other.

ANC National Executive Committee member Tony Yengeni has written to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) asking for an investigation into Zondo’s conduct for alleged breach of the Code of Judicial Conduct related to comments made in the fourth part of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into State Capture report.

Zondo stated in the report that Cyril Ramaphosa’s election as ANC president at the party’s 54th national elective conference in December 2017, in Nasrec, had saved the party from more damage.

Malema said judges are respected for their legal judgments and not their political views or their political activity.

“We are fully behind Mr Tony Yengeni. We think chief justice Zondo is too forward and has got no limit. We think that he thinks that judges are untouchable that’s why he has given himself a responsibility to enter even the political terrain. What do judges have to do or say with regards to the outcomes of political conferences of political parties? Judges must know the limit and Zondo has got no limit,” Malema said.

He went on to accuse Zondo of being a factionalist that supports Ramaphosa’s second term.

“He is effectively saying if we do not elect Ramaphosa in this December conference we are going to be in trouble,” Malema said.

He called on the JSC’s conduct committee to ensure that Zondo is disciplined the same way former Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng was disciplined when he descended into the terrain of politics.

Public Protector’s Impeachment

Meanwhile, Malema explained that the Section 194 Committee conducting the impeachment inquiry against the Public Protector should postpone its work, as Busisiwe Mkhwebane is still involved with court applications.

Mkhwebane is trying to halt impeachment proceedings against her.  

“It is important that every little aspect is satisfied so that the outcome of that Parliament process is not questioned by anyone. If the Public Protector is delaying deliberately trying to make sure that her term of office expires before Parliament could hear the matter, she is denying herself justice because through that process she can be able to deal with some of the allegations that are put against her,” Malema said.

He said Mkhwebane must be taken on review and her reports must be set aside and they must be sustained by courts if the reports are properly researched and investigated.