Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng issued a grovelling apology to South Africans after his jaw-dropping behaviour at the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial on Friday.
The judge, frustrated after a weekend of backlash, admitted that he went too far with controversial race remarks about court officials.
On Friday Mokgoatlheng remarked that no white lawyer would skip court to attend a race.
The comment came in response to a request from defence counsel for accused one and three, advocate Charles Mnisi, to be excused from court on Monday due to his participation in the Comrades Marathon on Sunday.
Conduct questionable and incorrect
“I don’t believe a white advocate would dare to ask me that, ever,” he stated.
When the proceedings resumed on Monday, a humbled Mokgoatlheng begged for forgiveness, stating that he has never behaved like he did in his entire career.
“I have never, ever behaved like I did on Friday. My conduct was questionable and incorrect,” he said.
He disclosed that his boss, Judge President Dunstan Mlambo of the Gauteng Division of the High Court, gave him a severe reprimand.
“The judge president rightfully excoriated me for my conduct; it is not befitting of a judge of my experience and stature,” he said.
He further said even his wife, whom he thought was scared of him, told him to apologise because his actions were “worse than the attorneys who steal the RAF’s [Road Accident Fund] money from clients.”
Spilling family secrets
The judge, who has 26 years of legal experience, was hurt by the claims of racism. Defending himself, he spilt family secrets, saying: “My great-grandmother was a German, and I recall that she used to cut her hair so that people did not realise that she had white blood, so I know everything about racism.”
According to Mokgoatlheng, if people assume that he is racist, they should ask Archbishop Thabo Makgoba. He further claimed that President Cyril Ramaphosa was his junior in politics.
“If people say I am a racist, maybe I am not aware of that, but if I trampled on anybody’s toe, I apologise.
“I wish to apologise for being a racist; I will try and mend my ways. Even [former president] Thabo Mbeki would be shocked that I am now a racist.”
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