Zuma’s walkout must not be taken lightly

FORMER president Mr Jacob Zuma’s reprehensible action, by leaving the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture without permission, after his application for the recusal of the chairperson, Justice Raymond Zondo, was dismissed, is very worrying.

Worse still, it’s wrong, and I expect that the government will fulfil its mandate without fear or favour. As a citizen of South Africa, Zuma’s unlawful behaviour requires that the courts apply the law.

The deliberate disregard to comply with the commission’s summons, contempt of the commission and the directives issued by the chairperson, cannot be accepted or condoned.

In short, Zuma has turned his back on the Zondo Commission, and this case has very serious repercussions for Zuma and for the rule of law if government fails to act.

If such contempt for the judiciary process is forgiven, then I believe we are living in a banana republic. No one is above the law.

According to the Bill of Rights, all are equal before the law, shall be entitled to a fair legal judiciary process and have the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty by the law. It is central to our Constitution, rule of law and the country’s values, that laws should be equally enforced. It will be immoral, unjust and unconstitutional to discriminate among South Africans, providing some more and others fewer rights, based on race or political connections.

MOHAMED SAEED | Pietermaritzburg