‘The wheels of justice do turn’

THE judgment handed down by the North Gauteng High Court against President Jacob Zuma was hailed yesterday as a victory for democracy and justice by the opposition and law experts.

Even the ruling ANC yesterday called on Zuma to implement the court’s unanimous judgment that he set up a commission of inquiry into state capture without delay.

Constitutional law expert Lawson Naidoo of the Council for the Advancement of the SA Constitution said the judgment augured well for the country’s constitutional democracy.

“This shows that while the wheels of justice may turn slowly, they do turn. It shows that we have an independent judiciary,” Naidoo said.

He said the judgment was also an indictment of Parliament which failed to play its role in holding the president accountable.

Zuma’s office had not indicated yesterday whether he would be appealing the judgment but Naidoo believed the cost order against him would mean that the president would now “think long and hard” before attempting any appeal.

The EFF reiterated its call for Zuma to step down, saying the judgment proved that not only did he violate the constitution but that he lied to the courts as well. IFP MP Narend Singh said the judgment would send a message that those who held public office would be held personally liable should it be found that they were using taxpayer monies for personal matters.

The DA said it would be laying perjury charges against Zuma for his “sinister attempt to mislead the courts, abuse judicial process, and ultimately undermine the law and the constitution”.

The ANC said the commission was in the country’s interest, would provide everyone with an opportunity to tell their side of the story and therefore Zuma would implement the judgment.