Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Jeff Radebe has authorised Cape Judge President John Hlophe to return to work, the SABC reported on Tuesday.

His decision followed the Judicial Services Commission's decision not to proceed with an investigation into allegations that Hlophe had tried to influence Constitutional Court judges in a judgment relating to President Jacob Zuma's former corruption case.

Justice ministry spokesperson Tlali Tlali said: "Minister Jeff Radebe wrote yesterday [Monday] to Judge Hlophe. The purpose of that correspondence was really to note the JSC decision and to inform Judge Hlophe that as the reasons for his conditional special leave no longer existed, then the path had been cleared for Judge Hlophe to return to work."

Hlophe's lawyer Barnabas Xulu added: "In summary, Judge President Hlophe has received this letter and he is considering it. He'll obviously reply to it and advise when he is going to be practically able to do that."