South Africa Chief Justice to appeal apology order

JOHANNESBURG - A defiant Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng has resolved to challenge a decision by the Judicial Conduct Committee ( JCC) to apologise for and retract comments he made about Israel during a webinar in 2020.

"The Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng has signified his intention to appeal the decision made by ( Judge Phineas Mojapelo), a member of the Judicial Conduct Committee ( JCC), in the complaints lodged by Africa4Palestine, SA BDS Coalition and the Women's Cultural Group," the JCC said in a statement on Sunday.

"The JCC will in due course determine the date on which the appeal would be heard by at least three of its members. Members of the JCC who are eligible to hear the appeal are Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, Justices D H Zondi, N Dambuza and M Victor," it added.

Sunday was the deadline for Mogoeng to retract his comments and apologise.

Mogoeng became involved in the political controversy surrounding South Africa's policy on Israel and the conduct of its diplomatic relations by criticising the state's official stance and putting forward his own views.

The JCC was tasked with probing several complaints against Mogoeng and whether he contravened the Code of Judicial Conduct.

The complaints were brought by Africa4Palestine, the SA BDS Coalition and the Women's Cultural Group.

News24 reported that the committee found, among other things, that Mogoeng involved himself in political controversy or activity.

It also considered remarks he made at a prayer meeting, where he stood by his refusal to retract or apologise for any part of what he had said during the webinar, "even if 50 million people were to march every day for 10 years for me to do so, I would not apologise. If I perish, I perish."

On June 23, 2020, Mogoeng participated in a webinar with Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein. The webinar was hosted by an Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post, under the theme "Two Chiefs, One Mission: Confronting Apartheid of the Heart."

Mogoeng was asked about his previous utterances with regard to his "love for the Jewish people, for Israel, for the state of Israel…"

“The Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng has signified his intention to appeal the decision made by (Judge Phineas Mojapelo), a member of the Judicial Conduct Committee (JCC)”