Mogoeng ‘declines’ meeting with Africa4Palestine over Israel remarks

Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng has turned down an invitation to meet with Africa4Palestine, the organisation has said. Africa4Palestine said it had reached out to Mogoeng with the aim of engaging him on his pro-Israel comments.

The organisation said it was disappointed that the CJ would reject to meet with them, but speak on a foreign Israeli platform. This is in reference to a virtual discussion hosted by the Jerusalem Post, during which he made the controversial remarks.

“In addition, while the Chief Justice declines an invitation to engage, while he, at the same time, has gone on public platforms making outlandish statements and casting insults that have now turned, arguably, to intimidation. He does this without any shame, fear or dignity and is, we feel, further bringing our judiciary and the office he occupies into gross disrepute,” it has said.

Mogoeng’s comments on Israel have now landed him on the other side of the bench as earlier this month, the Judicial Conduct Committee (JCC) found him guilty of breaching the code of conduct by becoming involved in a political controversy and ordered him to apologise. He will be appealing the decision.

What exactly did Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng say?

During the webinar, Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng is said to have lamented South Africa’s current stance on the Israel-Palestine matter and called for a more balanced approach, to enable greater change in the debate.

“The forgiveness that was demonstrated, the understanding and big heart displayed by President Nelson Mandela and we, the people of South Africa, is an asset we must use around the world to bring peace when there is no peace and to mediate effectively based on rich experience”, Mogoeng said.

“We would do well to reflect on the objectivity involved in adopting a particular attitude towards a particular country that has not taken as much and unjustly from South Africa and Africa as other nations that we consider it to be an honour to have diplomatic relations with us”

Africa4Palestine was even more scathing of Mogoeng and said it was confident that the ruling by the JCC will be upheld.

“The Chief Justice has refused to engage and has chosen not to follow through with the JSC decision for him to apologise, he has, instead, decided to appeal the JSC decision – which is his right. We trust that the upcoming appeals process is swift and that the Chief Justice will eventually adhere to its outcome. Our legal team advises us that we can remain confident that the initial 4th of March ruling by the JSC for Mogoeng to apologise will be upheld,” the organisation said.