Letters

The rule of law was elevated to one of the four pillars of South Africa's constitution by its drafters. Yet if individuals are regarded as guilty and pronounced as such by the chief guardian of the constitution, the rule of law is weakened considerably, giving South Africans reason to be concerned.

President Thabo Mbeki claimed he had fired Jacob Zuma because of a "court finding that there was a generally corrupt relationship between Zuma and Schabir Shaik". This, after the judge, who allegedly made this "finding", repeatedly explained that no such finding was made by him.*1

Those who argue that Zuma will not get a fair trial by South African judges are correct, as the public has lost confidence in the legal system.*2

If South Africa is to avert a civil war, the ANC-led government needs to declare a state of emergency, enabling the Zuma trial to get under way, chaired by a respected jurist from another country, and where the media is prohibited from commenting on the trial until its conclusion.

Failing this, the ANC would do well to use its majority in the House of Assembly to amend our constitution, prohibiting the indictment of the country's president, the leaders of the ruling party and the majority opposition party, national and provincial police commissioners and judges for the duration of their time in office.

Calvin Rix
Strandfontein

With acknowledgements to Calvin Rix and Cape Argus.