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Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng.
- Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng has apparently declined a meeting with a human rights group. Africa4Palestine.
- The organization had accused Mogoeng of intimidation.
- Meanwhile, the ACDP held a picket line in support of Mogoeng on Monday.
The human rights organization that criticized Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng for his comments on Israel says he has declined to meet with them and is now accusing him of intimidation.
Africa4Palestine says it reached out to Mogoeng after the Judicial Conduct Committee (JCC) ruled that he should apologize for his comments by promising to love Israel.
In a statement on Monday, Africa4Palestine spokesman Tiisetso Magama said in a statement that the meeting was intended to “try to engage in dialogue and engage in dialogue with him about his pro-Israeli statements and anti-Palestinian views.”
Africa4Palestine, the SA BDS Coalition and the Women’s Cultural Group filed complaints with the JCC following Mogoeng’s comments last year, saying they were political statements. Mogoeng is appealing the decision that he should apologize, but Magama said they were confident that he would lose the appeal.
In response to an email requesting a meeting, Seal Chiloane, the chief of staff for Mogoeng’s office, said: “Please note that the Chief Justice is not available for the proposed meeting.”
READ | Chief Justice Mogoeng to Appeal Decision to Apologize for Israel’s Comments
The organization has also accused Mogoeng of intimidation, “without shame, fear or dignity and we believe that he is further putting our judiciary and the position he holds in great disrepute.”
They accuse Mogoeng of saying “Anyone today who is conspiring to disgrace me will die before they can” during a webinar last week.
Magama said it was disappointing that Mogoeng was willing to meet with Israeli organizations, but not with local ones.
“We communicated with the Chief Justice with pure and sincere intent in the genuine interest of compromise, but we are saddened that the Chief Justice declined our invitation.”
On Monday morning, the African Christian Democratic Party held a picket line at the Constitutional Court in support of Mogoeng. They said their comments were part of their right to religious expression.
KARYN MAUGHAN | Hard to say sorry: Mogoeng’s apology ruling calls for putting duty before faith
Comments from the Supreme Court Speaker Nathi Mncube’s office will be added once they are received.
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