Magistrate suspended over Bosasa upgrades

On Wednesday, justice & correctional services minister Ronald Lamola tabled a report before parliament to provisionally suspend Pretoria chief magistrate Desmond Nair after two charges of misconduct.

The report was tabled in terms of section 13(3)(b) of the Magistrates Court Act, pending the outcome of an investigation into his fitness to hold office.

Nair allegedly had R200,000 worth of security equipment installed at his Pretoria home. This was according to Bosasa employee Richard le Roux in testimony before the Zondo commission of inquiry in 2019.

“Given the seriousness of the allegations, as well as the importance of the image of our judicial officers, our courts and the rule of law, I have decided to provisionally suspend Mr Nair with immediate effect, pending the outcome of the investigation,” said Lamola.

The allegations make it “inappropriate for the magistrate to perform the functions of a magistrate while the allegation is being investigated and if an investigation has been instituted by the commission into the magistrate’s fitness to hold office”, said spokesperson for the ministry Chrispin Phiri.

The department said Nair was charged with two counts of misconduct following a preliminary investigation and a report by the magistrate’s commission in November 2019. “The misconduct charges relate to allegations that Mr Nair allegedly asked for, or accepted/received, special favours or benefits from Bosasa, which may unduly influence him in the execution of his judicial duties or which may create the impression or perception as being intended to influence him in the performance of such duties,” said Phiri.

Lamola said judicial officers need to be held to the highest standards of scrutiny. “Their conduct must at all times be beyond reproach.”