- The National Assembly unanimously supported the removal of the senior magistrate and judicial head of the Mossel Bay District Court, Letitia Freeman.
- She was found guilty of 29 charges related to dishonesty.
- MPs across the board condemned her actions and there were calls for criminal investigations.
The National Assembly has unanimously supported the removal of a magistrate found guilty of 29 charges related to dishonesty.
The Magistrates' Commission found senior magistrate and judicial head of the Mossel Bay District Court, Letitia Freeman, guilty of 29 counts of misconduct, most of which involve false transport claims.
She is also accused of failing to disclose a criminal conviction (theft in 1993) or her directorship of a company when she applied to become a senior magistrate.
On 22 June, she tendered her resignation, hours before the Magistrates' Commission would have recommend to a joint meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services and the Standing Committee on Safety and Security that she be removed from her post.
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services Bulelani Magwanishe informed the National Assembly on Thursday afternoon that they had received a letter from the Magistrates' Commission, stating that Freeman's resignation didn't comply with the rules. Her resignation will only take effect on 31 July.
Freeman was roundly condemned by MPs.
Misconduct
DA MP Werner Horn said it was clear that Freeman didn't "act with the honesty required of magistrates" and her behaviour could not be tolerated.
EFF MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said his party was "shocked at the depth of her misconduct" and it is "only right that Parliament endorses her removal from office".
He and ACDP MP Steve Swart suggested that there should be a criminal investigation into her conduct.
IFP MP Themba Msimang said corruption in the legal system threatened democracy.
ANC MP Wilma Nieuwoudt-Druchen said Freeman's conduct fell short of the standard expected of magistrates.
No party objected to the report.
The NCOP will also deal with the matter.