The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) will hear an application on Monday by the judges of the Constitutional Court who are appealing against a ruling in favour of Cape Judge President John Hlophe.

The Constitutional Court judges want a high court ruling overturned which found that the judges had infringed on Hlophe's right to dignity by making public an allegation that he tried to interfere in a judgement involving ruling party leader Jacob Zuma.

The Constitutional Court judges released a media statement on the allegation of interference without offering Hlophe a reasonable opportunity to respond, the High Court in Johannesburg ruled last year.

Hlophe's lawyers are expected to seek the recusal of SCA deputy president Louis Harms at the start of the hearing.

The Hlophe saga started in June 2008 after Constitutional Court judges lodged a complaint to the Judicial Services Commission against him for allegedly making what they regarded as inappropriate approaches regarding a pending judgement on Zuma who is facing graft charges related to a government arms deal.