Retiring Gauteng Judge President Bernard Ngoepe wants the tapes, which halted the prosecution of President Jacob Zuma, to be released, the Sowetan reported on Wednesday.
Ngoepe reportedly criticised the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for not releasing the so-called spy tapes.
The Supreme Court of Appeal ruled in March that the NPA needed to release reduced transcripts of the tapes to the Democratic Alliance.
The NPA has said this was contingent on Zuma's lawyers not objecting on the grounds of confidentiality. Zuma's lawyers objected.
According to the Sowetan's website, Ngoepe said the courts could do nothing more than hold the NPA in contempt, but this was "a drastic mechanism".
"Anyone who wants the order to be carried out can approach courts to ensure that it is done."
Ngoepe told the Sowetan the judiciary's independence could not be threatened, as judges were "the guardians of their independence".
"If the government or any act of Parliament threatens to endanger judges' independence, judges must declare it unconstitutional and set it aside."
Ngoepe officially retires on Wednesday.
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