Publication: Business Day
Issued:
Date: 2007-02-27
Reporter: Joffre Papenfus
Two
current court cases have serious consequences for our legal system’s very
survival.
In Schabir Shaik’s appeal, the argument has been made that
corruption is justified because of the perceived effect of
the previous dispensation. Not only should such an argument be
disregarded, the court should make a clear judgment that it is not allowed.
Another appeal, based on the rights of children, deals with the effect
on a child of sentencing a primary caregiver to jail time. If you cannot do the
time, don’t do the crime !
Crime is surely being encouraged by
ridiculously low sentences and a Bill of Rights that protects the criminal
element to the detriment of society as a whole.
Joffre
Papenfus
Pretoria
With acknowledgement to Joffre
Papenfus and Business
Day.