Judicial Conduct Tribunal hears Parker insisted Hlophe assaulted him

JOHANNESBURG - Western Cape High Court Judge Derek Wille has testified that a suspended judge of the same bench, Mushtak Parker approached him for assistance following an alleged altercation with then Judge president, John Hlophe.

Wille is appearing before the Judicial Conduct Tribunal probing allegations of gross misconduct against Parker.  

Ten judges filed complaints against Parker over filing contradicting statements - one accusing Hlophe of assaulting him and later retracting it a year later.

On 25 February 2019, an exasperated Parker approached Wille in his chambers seeking counsel following an alleged assault on him by his boss, Hlophe.

READ: Judicial Conduct Tribunal hearing into Judge Mushtak Parker's conduct set to begin

According to Wille, Parker also presented what appeared as evidence of the altercation.

"Also at the time that he deposed to this affidavit in front of me, he brought a key along, which was the key which he said broke when he fell down against the bookcase that houses the legal books in his chambers after he had been struck by the judge president."

However, after deposing of the affidavit, Wille said Parker opted not to take it. Instead, he left it with Wille and asked him to send it to his personal email.

Later that day, Parker is said to have returned with two affidavits signed by a commissioner of oaths and still requested that they be kept with Wille.