The Democratic Alliance (DA) warns that the confidence ordinary South Africans once placed in the courts is being badly shaken. The arrest of Gauteng High Court Judge Portia Phahlane has sent a shockwave through the country, and it should. When a judge is accused of taking bribes to influence a case, something has gone profoundly wrong.
Judge Phahlane allegedly pocketed R2 million in bribes in a bitter legal battle involving members of the International Pentecost Holiness Church. These payments reportedly included large sums of cash and even a multimillion-rand property. Two individuals accused of paying the bribes have also been taken into custody.
This is not a small matter. Judges hold extraordinary power, and South Africans must be able to believe that those powers are exercised honestly.
The idea that a sitting judge could sell justice to the highest bidder is an insult to every citizen who turns to the courts for fairness.
The DA insists that everyone involved in this scandal must face the full force of the law. No excuses, no special treatment, and certainly no place on the bench for anyone who abuses their position.
But this case is only one part of a deeper problem. Judiciary annual reports released this week show more than 132 complaints were filed against judges in the last financial year alone — over 350 in the past three years.
These range from endless judgment delays to incompetence and allegations of misconduct. Yet the body responsible for investigating these complaints, the Judicial Conduct Committee, is running on fumes. It does not have the staff or resources needed to deal with the volume of cases coming its way, and the backlog is growing.
While the Chief Justice has begun tackling some of the pressure points, including Constitutional Court delays, the broader system is still under strain.
The DA calls for urgent reinforcement of the Judicial Conduct Committee and unwavering action against any judge who breaches the trust of the public. Justice cannot survive if the people no longer believe in it.