THE acquittal of the four men accused of murdering Rashaad Staggie showed that the state had lost key skills, said Hennie Bester, leader of the Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape. The loss of these skills “weakened the capacity to secure successful convictions in cases critical to the welfare of the nation,” Bester said. “Simply throwing money at the problem, as the national government is doing at present, will bring little respite unless they are prepared to bring back some of those key skills into the criminal justice system,” he said. National Director of Public Prosecutions, Bulelani Ngcuka called the verdict “a victory for justice”. He said he was also relieved the trial was finally over. “However, I am naturally disappointed that the evidence placed before the judge did not convince him to convict the accused of murder,” he said. – Sapa
THEY SAID IT, from Sapa
“I can assure you that I took no offence. I think it’s good that people feel at liberty to raise such questions in public.”
– Former president Nelson Mandela reacting to rightwing objections to his presence at a wreath-laying ceremony at a statue of Boer scout commander Danie Theron.
“The State has no legitimate interest in the reasons why people engage in sexual activity.”
– An advocate arguing for the legalisation of prostitution in the Constitutional Court.
“To victimise him for having defended the highest principles of his profession and for standing up for his most vulnerable and poor patients, is unjust in terms of all civilised and humane ethical standards.”
– A report by leading medical ethicists denouncing the firing of hospital superintendent Thys von Mollendorff, who allowed anti-HIV medicines to be distributed to rape victims.
“Non-payment has become a national occupation.”
– Deputy Justice Minister Cheryl Gillwald on men who fail to keep their maintenance obligations.
“I’m bringing in a patient, male, about nine months old, weighing 250g and extremely hairy.”
— Dr Curt Minnie to the Chris Barnard Memorial Hospital as he rushed his kitten in for emergency treatment. The cat, JC, had stopped breathing but was saved by an operation.
“You spend a year-and-a-half not being able to sleep, just being in sheer terror of potentially messing up the Muhammad Ali story. It’s just something you do once.”
– Actor Will Smith, saying he did not have plans to play former president Nelson Mandela in any future movies. He was in Johannesburg promoting his new film, Ali.
“I was not happy about that… because I know that I had a right to appeal to the highest court, and they did not want to give me that chance.”
– Murder suspect Sizwe Gaqa, who had a bullet, which police believed to be evidence, removed from his leg following a Cape High Court ruling that this could be done without his permission.