Cape Judge President John Hlophe on Thursday denied making improper suggestions to two Constitutional Court judges over a judgment on President Jacob Zuma.

"I never said the ruling of the court should be in favour of Zuma," Hlophe told a long-awaited inquiry into the matter in Braamfontein, Johannesburg.

Hlophe is for the first time telling his side of the story at the preliminary investigation into the complaint by the court, and his counter complaint against them.

He said that before they laid the complaint they could have "picked up the phone" and discussed it with him.

Instead, they issued a public statement. The fact that the only political party to receive it was the Democratic Alliance raised suspicions of a political motive.