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.
Yesterday 80 000 people turned out for a Barack Obama rally in Portland Oregan. This picture pretty much sums it up. I know if he is elected he will not necessarily change US foreign policy that dramatically and that he will still act in the interest of the US and not the rest of us. But still, I am rooting for him all the way because for a politician he seems remarkably honest and reflexive.