Publication: Business Day Issued: Date: 2006-11-10 Reporter: Wyndham Hartley Reporter:

Cabinet Defends Judges Against Racial Attacks

 

Publication 

Business Day
Date 2006-11-10

Reporter

 Wyndham Hartley

Web Link

www.businessday.co.za

 

CAPE TOWN ­ Government has taken a swipe at Jacob Zuma supporters, most notably in the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), for racial attacks on judges.

In a statement after its meeting on Wednesday, the cabinet described such attacks as “regrettable and unwelcome”.

The cabinet’s support for the judiciary yesterday follows this week’s rejection by a full bench of the Supreme Court of Appeal of Schabir Shaik’s appeal against his conviction and sentence. When Shaik, former financial adviser to Zuma, was found guilty of fraud and corruption, Judge Hilary Squires was criticised by Zuma’s supporters as racist *1.

This week’s judgment found that Squires’ findings were beyond reproach.

The court’s vindication of Squires comes as a major setback for Zuma because it raises the possibility of fraud and corruption charges being brought against him again.

Chief government spokesman Themba Maseko said the cabinet had not called for those responsible to apologise for their criticism.

Maseko cited the attacks on Squires after his judgment found that Shaik and Zuma had a “generally corrupt relationship” as an example of “regrettable” attacks on the judiciary.

ANCYL president Fikile Mbalula called Squires’ verdict a “miscarriage of justice”, and said the judge lacked “fairness, balance and justice”.

He also insinuated that Squires’ race had played a role in his verdict.

Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi also criticised Squires’ findings.

The cabinet said: “We are confident that all South Africans will continue to embrace our constitution and the independence of the judiciary. Our judges must perform their duties with the full knowledge that our constitution guarantees their independence and their right to apply the law to the best of their abilities.

“In this regard, our judiciary must know that it enjoys the full confidence of cabinet.

“Equally, our citizens must know that the judiciary’s principal task is to uphold the law and ensure that all of us are treated equally before the law. Any unjustified, racial attacks on the judiciary is unwelcome.”

Maseko also said the cabinet had noted the allegations against national police commissioner Jackie Selebi regarding his alleged links with organised crime. He said the cabinet had expressed its full confidence in Selebi.

With acknowledgements to Wyndham Hartley and Business Day.


*1       While the leader of the cabinet criticised arms deal anti-corruption campaigners as racist.