JSC recommends special leave for Facebook judge after social media uproar

10 May, 2016 

Pretoria High Court Judge Mabel Jansen is in hot water over her racist social media comments.
Image by: Mabel Jansen via Facebook

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has proposed to Justice Minister Michael Masuthu that Judge Mabel Jansen be placed on special leave‚ following a complaint against her alleged racial utterances.

The commission has made the proposal to Masutha after consulting with Jansen‚ it said in a statement on Tuesday.

Jansen came under fire this week for saying that rape is part of black men’s culture. She made the comments in a private conversation with Gillian Schutte‚ a filmmaker‚ who then made the comments public.

The JSC announced in its statement that it has received a complaint from advocate Vuyani Ngalwana SC‚ in his capacity as the chairperson of the Advocates for Transformation in Johannesburg and in his personal capacity.

The JSC said anyone wanting to lodge a complaint of alleged misconduct against a judge could do so with the Judicial Conduct Committee (JCC) by submitting an affidavit or an affirmed statement specifying the nature of the complaint and the facts on which the complaint is based.

“The JSC urges the public to allow that process to run its course and remain confident that the JCC shall deal with the matter in a just and proper manner.”

- The JSC statement came as public interest organisation Freedom Under Law called for the Pretoria judge to be placed on special leave pending a speedy investigation.

The organisation said her statements were “simply unacceptable” especially when made by a serving judge.

“Black accused or litigants cannot be expected to have confidence in their matters being heard by Judge Jansen until the Judicial Service Commission has made its determination‚” the organisation said in a statement
.