Third time unlucky for ‘judgemental’ judge

THE JUDGE who has been accused of being a racist, after he unleashed what had been deemed to be disparaging remarks in court, has been asked to recuse himself from yet another of his cases which are before the Western Cape High Court.

It is the third complaint which had been filed against acting Judge Leslie Weinkove.

In February, Cape Town attorney Barnabas Xulu, who is representing the fisheries department in a case about transformation in the fishing industry, filed the first complaint against the judge.

Last month, fellow attorney Tim Dunn also lodged an official grievance with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

Judge Weinkove has now also been asked to recuse himself from the Bromwell Street eviction matter which he presides over.

The judge came under fire in February after he questioned the evicted Bromwell Street residents’ request to be close to crucial amenities when they are eventually forced to vacate the Woodstock area.

“What’s the point of being near a school? What’s the point of them being near transport?” the judge wanted to know before questioning the content of an affidavit submitted by the group’s leader, Charnell Commando.

“How does this person, what’s their name Charnell, know what the cost implications will be on these properties? She doesn’t know what the city’s budget is; she is just a kitchen assistant,” Judge Weinkove said.

Xulu said: “Those comments, which essentially are the judge’s view on how he sees black people, upset my clients… are inconsistent with the constitution’s ethos.”

The application by the Bromwell Street residents will be in court on May 17 and 18.