Your reports, The charge against me is baseless, says Zuma, and ANC defends sentences on Yengeni, Lekota (July 31), certainly put the double standards practised by our politicians into focus.

Jacob Zuma complains that he is not being accorded his constitutional rights as an ordinary citizen, yet states that he will answer questions put by the Scorpions "at my earliest convenience" illustrating the contempt he has for this institution.

If I were the unfortunate recipient of a Scorpions investigation I wonder how they would react if I gave the same response.

As for the African National Congress defending the sentence it imposed on Tony Yengeni, it is apparent that if you are a convicted criminal yet co-operate with a party investigation, leniency is the order of the day.

I wonder whether this concept would work in the private sector?

Talk about double standards!

It appears that in our country if you are an ordinary citizen who transgresses the law, one set of rules applies to you. If you happen to be a public servant or party member, another set of rules applies.

Dave Mair
Johannesburg

With acknowledgements to Dave Mair and the Business Day.