Bribery complaint against judge referred to tribunal

The JSC has referred a complaint against acting Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg) Judge Samuel Makamu to a judicial tribunal – a significant development amid allegations that he took a R5 000 bribe in exchange for a favourable leave-to-appeal ruling. According to The Citizen, the committee found there is a prima facie case warranting a full tribunal investigation into allegations of gross misconduct against the acting judge. The complaint was lodged in August 2025 by businessman and lawyer Bouwe Wiersma, who alleges Makamu requested money to grant leave to appeal an eviction order handed down against him. Wiersma said the tribunal referral was confirmation that the complaint had passed an important legal threshold. Wiersma said that the complaint had allegedly been strengthened by an affidavit from a senior counsel. The matter was handled by SCA Judge Halima Saldulker, who was appointed to determine the merits of the complaint following a directive by Deputy Chief Justice Dunstan Mlambo.

According to documents submitted to the JSC, Wiersma alleges shortly after an eviction order was granted against him in August last year, he received a call from a person claiming to be calling from Makamu’s office. The individual allegedly offered to assist him in obtaining leave to appeal the eviction ruling, reports The Citizen. Wiersma further claims that Makamu later contacted him directly from his private cellphone and initially requested R7 000 to grant the appeal application. The amount was allegedly reduced to R5 000 during subsequent discussions. Banking records and WhatsApp messages submitted to the JSC allegedly show the money was paid into a Capitec account belonging to Makamu’s nephew on 17 August 2025. However, despite the alleged payment, Makamu ultimately dismissed the leave to appeal application with costs. Wiersma said he deliberately proceeded with the payment in an attempt to expose alleged corruption within the judiciary. Makamu could not be reached for comment.