Assuming Jacob Zuma becomes president, it will be interesting to see how the Schabir Shaik saga unfolds.

Can Zuma afford not to pardon Shaik after he takes office? I think not, for if he does not pardon Shaik will this not be an admission of Shaik's guilt and therefore Zuma's own guilt? Shaik is in prison because of what the media has termed the generally corrupt relationship between them. Zuma can therefore surely not permit Shaik to remain in prison.

On the other hand, and given their relationship and the court's findings, how will Zuma be able to justify pardoning Shaik when the very reason he is in prison is the relationship which existed between them? And is a pardon not an acknowledgment of sorts that there was a valid conviction in the first place? Will a pardon, on the facts of this case, not amount to a subversion of the criminal justice system?

Interesting times lie ahead. Before he makes a decision on the matter, he may well want to take a cold shower.

John Christie
Pietermaritzburg

With acknowledgements to John Christie and The Witness.