Chair, hon members, the Select Committee on Security and Constitutional Affairs met on 17 June 2008 to consider the report and recommendations of the Magistrates' Commission regarding the suspension of Magistrate S P Zwelibanzi, pending approval by Parliament. The report recommends that Magistrate Zwelibanzi be removed from office.
Mr Zwelibanzi, 50 years of age, served as a magistrate for 11 years. He was convicted of misconduct on two previous occasions for infringements that included unauthorised absence from office, failure to enter results in the register of the criminal trial and failure to answer reviewing judges' questions. He was cautioned on these matters. He was also convicted of driving while intoxicated, and he was suspended in this regard. Mr Zwelibanzi pleaded guilty to all of the above offences.
A disciplinary hearing was held, but Mr Zwelibanzi did not attend the scheduled hearing. The presiding officer was satisfied that all procedural requirements had been adhered to, and the hearing thus proceeded in his absence. [Interjections.]