Judge Makhubele represents herself in court amid misconduct allegations

JOHANNESBURG - Pretoria High Court Judge Tintswalo Makhubele will resume her evidence on Friday before the Judicial Conduct Tribunal probing allegations of misconduct against her.

The former interim board chair of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) is accused of holding that position and the post of judge simultaneously and undermining the independence of the judiciary.

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She's also accused of improperly involving herself in litigation between the parastatal and a state-capture implicated contractor.

After months of delays because of issues around her legal representation, the tribunal in the week refused any further postponements, and Makhubele has now taken the stand to represent herself.

On Thursday, she disputed Judge President Dunstan Mlambo’s evidence that she was meant to take office on 1 January 2018 but just didn’t pitch to take the oath, with the date on which she officially became a judge being central to the matter.

She said they agreed she would only start on 1 April, by which time she would have resigned from PRASA.

On Thursday, she also indicated that she would be disputing evidence Mlambo gave around communication between the two, and wants both their cell phones submitted for forensic analysis against this backdrop.