Mr Zuma is no ordinary litigant. He is the former President of the Republic, who remains a public figure and continues to wield significant political influence, while acting as an example to his supporters… He has a great deal of power to incite others to similarly defy court orders because his actions and any consequences, or lack thereof, are being closely observed by the public. If his conduct is met with impunity, he will do significant damage to the rule of law. As this Court noted in Mamabolo, “[n]o one familiar with our history can be unaware of the very special need to preserve the integrity of the rule of law”. Mr Zuma is subject to the laws of the Republic. No person enjoys exclusion or exemption from the sovereignty of our laws… It would be antithetical to the value of accountability if those who once held high office are not bound by the law.
MEDIA STATEMENT
24 January 2011
The Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC) met on Saturday 22 January 2011 to consider its programme of action for the year. Key features of the programme are as follows:
Sipho Pityana, Chairman of CASAC says “Our programme will seek to revive the spirit of active citizen participation around these issues and in broader public life, and demonstrate the centrality of the Constitution in shaping the society we wish to create”.
Enquiries:
Lawson Naidoo
Executive Secretary
Cell: 073 158 5736
BACK TO TOP