Letters

As it stands, he is innocent until proven guilty. Nevertheless, it has become clear from evidence before the court that Zuma is not competent to stand for high office.

The tragedy is the response from the youth leagues of the African National Congress and South African Communist Party. Almost predictably, they have chosen to attack Judge Hillary Squires as a racist.

Why they did not choose to air these concerns before the trial, one can only wonder. Would they have made the same claims had Shaik been acquitted?

These people are potentially the future leaders of SA. It is now patently clear that the real talent is to be found in business, and youth leagues represent those who lack the intellect to compete in this space. The leagues have proven themselves incapable of an educated contribution by choosing emotion over fact.

I can only hope that Squires chooses to exercise his right to dignity, and publicly tests these accusations in a court of law. It is time that this blight on our society is stopped. We cannot move forward until baseless accusations of racism are punishable as a crime.

Gary Smith
Johannesburg

With acknowledgement to Gary Smith and Business Day.