Johannesburg: Cape Judge President John Hlophe has submitted a 71-page reply to the bombshell complaint against him by the judges of the Constitutional Court.

Hlophe is expected to know as early as this weekend whether the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) is to institute an impeachment inquiry against him and ask President Thabo Mbeki to suspend him while such an inquiry is under way.

Hlophe's response, submitted to the JSC yesterday, was in answer to the Constitutional Court's allegation that he tried improperly to influence two of its judges to rule in favour of ANC president Jacob Zuma in his impending appeals.

The allegation is made in a 21-page complaint submitted to the JSC by Chief Justice Pius Langa on behalf of the court.

In public statements, Hlophe has dismissed the claim, describing it as ludicrous, rubbish and part of a plot against him.

The Constitutional Court has five days to reply before Saturday's meeting of the JSC.

The JSC's spokesperson, Marumo Moerane, confirmed yesterday that the commission's component dealing with disciplinary matters would meet as scheduled on Saturday. The JSC has said it will "consider whether the material ... discloses a prima facie case of gross misconduct".

Hlophe is on long leave.

Zuma would make a submission to the Constitutional Court by Friday, his lawyer, Michael Hulley, said.

With acknowledgements to Cape Times.