Quote of the week

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.

Khampepe j
Secretary of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector including Organs of State v Zuma and Others (CCT 52/21) [2021] ZACC 18
30 December 2006

Saddam HUssein Executed this morning

Saddam Hussein was executed this morning in Bagdad after being convicted of various attrocities by a court of sorts.

For me his execution is a reminder that in international affairs there is no such thing as morality.

Many of the attrocities for which Hussein was sentenced to death was committed during the time when the USA supported him and his regime. If he never turned against the USA he would probably still have been in power today.

Even if one supports the death penalty – which I do not – the killing of Hussein in these circumstances under the auspices of the USA seems like a stain on the name of the country who is supposed to be the beacon of liberty in our world.

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