Breytenbach’s memoirs
RULE OF LAW Glynnis Breytenbach Loot.co.za (R209) Pan Macmillan
REVIEWER: JULIAN RICHFIELD
ADVOCATE Glynnis Breytenbach is a former prosecutor for the National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa and a Member of Parliament for the Democratic Alliance. She is South Africa’s Shadow Minister of Justice.
During her 26-year legal career, she earned a reputation as one of this country’s most formidable state prosecutors.
Respected for her outspokenness, high level of integrity, compassion, fairness and dedication, and also known for her intimidating courtroom stare, her memoir, Rule of Law, sees a more relaxed Glynnis Breytenbach.
In the book, she gives her personal views about many aspects of the South African judicial world, the importance of an independent judiciary in South Africa and why the constitution and the rule of law are critical to the foundation and the future of this country. She also analyses some recent political and legal headline-making stories.
In between there are interviews with a diverse list of people who share their recollections of Glynnis. These are an objective mix of candid, serious and humorous insights into her and add much value to the book.
For example, defence attorney Oeloff de Meyer says of her: “I regard Glynnis as exceptional. She is exceptional in this sense: she knows what she is doing, she has a good idea of what she wants, and she is prepared to listen to what you say.
“If you make a strong point, she will concede the point to you.”
Glynnis candidly reveals much about herself, including her love of animals, and being a very private person and the difficult adjustment to being a public figure.
She tells of her move into politics.
She had a call from Helen Zille asking if she wanted to be a Member of Parliament. Glynnis said that she needed time to think about it. Zille asked how much time she would need.
About three minutes was the answer. “I discussed the matter with my dogs and they said okay.”
And from Bulelani Ngcuka, first national director of public prosecutions: “I would never have thought that Glynnis would go into politics, or that she would survive in the political space. She has no diplomacy, nothing.
“But she will do well there. You have to be nimble-footed in politics.” Rule of Law is an excellent memoir. Informative without being too didactic. Witty in parts.
Told, in places, using the unfiltered but non-offensive language that Glynnis is known for. It ends with her encouraging thoughts on what is needed to move South Africa forward.