EDITOR – Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng’s judgement that President Jacob Zuma violated the constitution when he ignored the public protector’s ruling to pay for private upgrades to his home has put to rest months of speculation about the non-security upgrades to president Zuma’s homestead in Nkandla.
The time, taxpayers’ money and human resources used to protect the president may run into millions. It would be a healthy exercise to quantify the losses that this case incurred while acknowledging the millions of citizens who, at this point in time, are without basic needs and services.
South Africa needs more public servants of the calibre of Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng and Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela. These individuals revere and uphold our constitutional democracy. Even ministers in government such as Finance Minister, Pravin Gordan, and his deputy, Mcebisi Jonas, have exhibited high moral and ethical standards. We need more of these individuals whose interest lies with justice for the millions of poor and marginalised in this country.
It is a severe indictment that unique people with a strong moral core are severely lacking. There seems to be a lack of visionary leaders which led the ANC, leaders like Pixley ke Seme, Walter Rubasana, Oliver Thambo, Walter Sisulu, Albertina Sisulu and Nelson Mandela. Take for example Steve Biko, he was a medical doctor. He could have spent his life making millions but he did not.
Nelson Mandela was a lawyer. He could have made a lot of money by getting into private practice but instead spent three decades of his life as a prisoner in a cold cell. These individuals were not self-centred or self-consumed but had the interests of emancipating the majority who were trapped in an unjust system. They espoused a view of there being something larger than themselves. These were leaders pertinent to that era of a few years ago. The universal question is, where have the ANC gone wrong?
South Africa cannot afford to degenerate into a kleptocractic state. Some commentators are telling us that this judgement smacks of a constitutional crisis. One of the ways out of this mess is to dissolve parliament and call for new elections. Mogoeng’s judgement has far-reaching implications since his rebuke is not limited to Zuma alone but to the whole National Assembly, even the applicants who brought the matter to court.
This judgement has demonstrated the independence of our judiciary. It proves that no one is above the law, even a sitting president that has the support of the majority behind him. All South Africans can breathe a sigh of relief that our constitutional democracy is intact.
Vijay Surujpal
Phoenix
