There can be only one good outcome from this week's official sabotage of due process at Jacob Zuma's initial appearance on a rape charge before a Johannesburg magistrate: a pledge from the government that it will never happen again.

It was outrageous that police and bodyguards shut the court to two reporters and a photographer of The Star, our sister newspaper, purposely blocking their efforts to record the appearance. They physically prevented the photographer from doing his work.

This obstructive and unnecessary behaviour violated several constitutional principles - press freedom and a public hearing among them. The action suggested a dangerous germ of official arrogance in the security agency, which must be nipped before it grows.

Another disconcerting aspect of this improper use of state muscle, one which must be vexing the minister of justice and her boss in the West Wing of the Union Buildings, is that the presiding magistrate appeared unaware that his court had been closed.

He did not clear his court, nor did the chief magistrate. It seems there was no consultation with them either. Since when did it become a police prerogative to rule whether or not a court should be closed to scrutiny?

A very senior police officer who was present should have known better, and must be held accountable *1. It was a clear intrusion into judicial discretion, making justice seem literally blind - and even abused.

With acknowledgement to Sunday Tribune.

*1      This bonehead not only did was he did but did it with a smirk on his face, thereby indicating his disdain for the rule of the law, his obligation to uphold, and not only acting on instruction.

Charge him - if he is guilty, fire him.