International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola launched a blistering verbal assault on MK Party parliamentary leader, Dr John Hlophe, accusing him of hypocrisy, political opportunism, and unflinching allegiance to former president Jacob Zuma. On Wednesday, Lamola shattered Hlophe's credibility by calling him an "unrehabilitated and blind Zuma loyalist" whose actions on the bench and in politics have demonstrated "dishonesty and a complete lack of ethics."

This sparked a heated debate in Parliament. Following Hlophe's claim that President Cyril Ramaphosa had undermined democratic principles, Lamola was deposed. But the Minister didn’t hold back — slamming Hlophe for his “selective outrage,” and highlighting the contradiction of defending parliamentary sovereignty while representing a party that, according to Lamola, flouted the very principles of constitutional democracy. Lamola charged, drawing a sharp line between Hlophe’s political positions and his judicial past.

The Minister also resurrected the long-standing controversy surrounding Hlophe’s tenure as a judge, reminding the House of the misconduct finding against him for attempting to influence Constitutional Court judges in favour of Zuma. Lamola argued that this was more than just a mistake made by the judge; it was also a clear sign of Hlophe's unwavering loyalty to a political donor. At the time, speculation has mounted around Hlophe’s future ambitions — including whispers of a potential bid for Chief Justice — but Lamola dismissed them outright as “driven by factional fealty, not national service.” “The MK party [parliamentary] leader is someone who, as a judge, did his best to unlawfully influence other judges to support Jacob Zuma, a lack of ethics, no integrity, and dishonesty.

“Honourable Hlophe is an unrehabilitated and a blind Zuma loyalist; he is part of the family business,” Lamola said. “Just like Zuma, he is consumed by hate for President Ramaphosa, so is Honourable Hlophe consumed by his blind loyalty to Jacob Zuma”. Despite its declared commitment to democracy, Lamola claimed that the MKP's ranks lack democracy. “They are anointed by the supreme leader at home. How can they bring democracy to the South African people? lamented Lamola.