President Thabo Mbeki has said that his deputy, Jacob Zuma, ought to be presumed innocent of any wrongdoing with regard to the arms deal until he is proven guilty in a court of law.

He is absolutely right. The Scorpions must investigate, the law must take its course and the legal outcome must be respected by all.

Zuma will either be found guilty of wrongfully associating with the arms deal, in which case he would surely be fired. Or he will be found innocent, in which case he may persuade us that he is the victim of a conspiracy.

But what of the ethical and moral issues? Mbeki would do well to ask questions about the judgment demonstrated by his number two.

Was it wise for Zuma to consort with a man charged with the illegal possession of Cabinet minutes? Was it wise to have this man in his entourage on not one, but two official trips abroad?

Was it wise of Zuma to suggest that a political conspiracy was afoot to undermine him ahead of the ANC conference?

All of these actions point to a serious deficiency of judgment on Zuma's part. What if he showed such lack of judgment were he to succeed Mbeki as President?

There are many questions that beg for more than a rhetorical flourish in defence of an old friend.

With acknowledgements to the Editor and Sunday Times.