JSC told of Afrikaans speaking judge’s indifference to colleagues who struggle with the language

A Northern Cape High Court judge who wrote a judgment in Afrikaans told a colleague who did not understand the language to "consult a dictionary", the JSC was told yesterday.

Judge Violet Phatshoane, interviewed by the Judicial Service Commission for the positions of judge president or deputy judge president, was being questioned by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, who said the commission had received a letter from Judge Ceile Williams announcing her withdrawal from the race on the grounds of rumours that Phatshoane was already tipped for the position.

Commissioner Sfiso Msomi asked Phatshoane if there were any factions in the Northern Cape division of the High Court.

"I have not been aware of any factions," said Phatshoane.

When pressed to say if other judges had "issues" with Williams, Phatshoane said there had been issues in the past.

"It was about a judgment she wrote in Afrikaans; a colleague was not conversant with Afrikaans and she told Williams about her problems," said Phatshoane.

Williams allegedly told her to "consult the dictionary".

With Williams' withdrawal, Phatshoane became the only candidate for the position of Northern Cape deputy judge president.

She presided over the corruption and money-laundering trial of Northern Cape ANC chairman John Block, sentencing him to an effective 15 years in jail.

Following the conviction, Block's lawyers told the JSC that Phatshoane had been influenced by Judge President Frans Kgomo. They alleged a phone call between Phatshoane and Kgomo was overheard and Kgomo said "convict the bastards". The JSC dismissed the allegation.

- TMG Digital