Helen Zille, the leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) and mayor of Cape Town, has called on South Africans to resist the ”political blackmail” from organisations that support the advance of African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma to the presidency.
Writing in her online newsletter, SA Today, on Friday, she condemned those who are calling for a political solution that would let Zuma off the hook in order to preserve stability in the country.
She said this argument is bogus.
”Firstly, a political deal would threaten constitutional democracy in South Africa by circumventing the rule of law and the principle of equality before the law, without which there is a far greater risk of South Africa descending into lawlessness.
”Secondly, a political solution would smash the founding compact of our democracy by elevating the narrow interests of the ANC’s ruling clique over the sanctity of the Constitution. Democracy can only and ultimately be safeguarded by constitutionalism, which recognises that democratic and accountable government must be coupled with constitutional limits on the ruling party’s power,” said Zille.
”Thirdly, a political compromise would delegitimise two key institutions of democracy: the judiciary and the National Prosecuting Authority [NPA]. A political rather than a legal settlement would make it extremely difficult for the NPA to prosecute politically sensitive cases in future.
”By sidestepping the courts, the authority and legitimacy of the judiciary would be permanently dented, and the principle of separation of powers [between the legislature, the executive and the judiciary] would be rendered meaningless.”
She added that by undermining confidence in public institutions, a special deal for Zuma would cause uncertainty and instability, thereby increasing political risk that could potentially lead to foreign disinvestment.
”Finally, without actually hearing the merits of the fraud and corruption case against Zuma, and without having seen the charges against him tested in a court of law, we will be denied the opportunity to assess — on the basis of a court judgement — his probity and suitability for public office.
”This would set an intolerable benchmark for public life in South Africa by paving the way for individuals with grave allegations of public misconduct hanging over their heads to assume office without having to answer their accusers.”
Legal teams for the state and Zuma will attend the Pietermaritzburg High Court on December 8 to argue over a date when he should stand trial.
That is unless Zuma agrees to the state’s proposal for his criminal trial to be held in the second quarter of next year, or if Judge Chris Nicholson rules in his favour in his recent application to have the decision to prosecute him declared unlawful. — I-Net Bridge, Sapa