Judge Mabel Jansen resigns
Pretoria High Court Judge Mabel Jansen has written to President Jacob Zuma and the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Michael Masutha, informing them of her resignation with immediate effect.
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development's Mthunzi Mhaga says Minister Masutha has acknowledged the letter, thanked her for her valuable service and is processing the letter for the President's attention.
"Judge Jansen was on special leave following comments she made which gave rise to a complaint to the Judicial Services Commission (JSC). The JSC was busy processing the complaint when she tendered her resignation. Her resignation will obviate a protracted disciplinary process," says Mhaga.
Mabel Jansen made headlines after a conversation on Facebook with filmmaker Gillian Schutte was made public.
Jansen made a series of comments, including that 99 percent of the criminal cases she heard were of "black fathers/uncles/brothers raping children as young as five".
She said: "Want to read my files: rape, rape, rape, rape, rape, rape of minors by black family members. It is never-ending."
Jansen said that in black culture, "a women is there to pleasure" men, that women tell their children it is their father's birthright to be the first, and that gang rapes of babies, mothers and daughters were a "pleasurable pass time".
"We are aware that legislation in itself may not end racism but will deter people from racist behaviour. The Department has also developed a draft National Action Plan to Combat Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (NAP) which was subjected to an intensive public participation process last year. It is envisaged that the revised NAP will be submitted to Cabinet for approval during 2017," says Mhaga.