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.
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
Scorpions bombshell coming?
The Citizen reports this morning that Parliament has done an about-turn and launched a “desperate” last-minute bid against a Johannesburg businessman’s urgent High Court interdict application against disbanding the Scorpions.
Speaker of Parliament Baleka Mbete and National Council of Provinces chairman Johannes Mahlangu filed affidavits with the Pretoria High Court on Monday, asking to present their case if Glenister intends to interdict Parliament.
From what I hear from lawyers and going on what was said in the media, it might well be that Mbete has gotten wind that the Court will rule against the government and the ANC leadership in Parliament is now trying to stop this from happening.
If the court rules in favour of the Johanneburg businesman it would be truly a legal bombshell. The judge will become the hero of the chattering classes and the villian of the new ANC eladership. Thing is, it is the same judge who acquitted Jacob Zuma on rape charges so vilifying him might be awkward.
