Judge Hartle’s future hangs in balance over alleged k-word and insults to clerk

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A court clerk stood by his claims that a high court judge racially insulted him, breaking down in tears as he described how the incident left him depressed and affected both his…

A court clerk stood by his claims that a high court judge racially insulted him, breaking down in tears as he described how the incident left him depressed and affected both his work and personal life.

Eastern Cape high court Judge Belinda Hartle is fighting to keep her job after being accused of calling a court employee the k-word, a case that could see her removed from the Bench if she is found guilty of gross misconduct and the process for her removal (impeachment) is followed.

Hartle is accused of using racist and insulting language towards high court registrar clerk Thozamile Semekazi in May 2025 after being frustrated by delays in the delivery of court files.

Semekazi, who has worked as a court clerk for more than 20 years, said in his complaint that he went to Hartle’s secretary’s office on the afternoon of 15 May 2025 to hand over files needed for case management.

He claimed that Hartle became upset when she saw the number of files which had been late and began swearing at him, including calling him the k-word, in front of her secretary, Shakira Frost.

Hours after the exchange, she apologised in a WhatsApp message, the tribunal heard.

It did not end there. The next day, she left a “peace offering” on his desk, agreeing that her conduct had been unprofessional, something which Semekazi considered to be a bribe.

The allegations are now under investigation by the Judicial Conduct Tribunal, chaired by retired Supreme Court of Appeal Justice Boissie Mbha, which began hearing evidence on Monday to determine whether Hartle’s behaviour amounted to gross misconduct.

On Tuesday, Semekazi was under cross-examination by advocate Jan Heunis SC, who is representing Hartle, with much of the questioning focusing on what happened during the confrontation and the WhatsApp message in which the judge had later apologised for using a swear word.

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