The Judicial Service Commission has voted for Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe to face impeachment.

This will pave the way for him to become the first judge in democratic South African history to be removed from office.

The vote comes four months after a Judicial Conduct Tribunal, found Hlophe guilty of gross misconduct for attempting to sway two Constitutional Court justices to rule in favour of then ANC President Jacob Zuma, in his 2008 bid to overturn warrants used to seize 93000 pages of corruption trial evidence against him.

The JSC says it will provide reasons for its decision within the next 24 hours.