It is a ”media myth” that the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) does not respect the independence of the judiciary, its general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, said on Wednesday.
”Let me … state categorically that Cosatu not only respects the independence of the judiciary, but actually regards it as the cornerstone of our hard-won democracy,” he said.
”It is just a myth driven mainly by media hysteria that we have no respect for these pillars of our democracy.”
Vavi was speaking at a Gordon Institute of Business Science forum in Johannesburg.
In a speech prepared for delivery, he said the debate on the threat to the judiciary and the Constitution is a ”non-issue”, but that the issue that divides society and organisations is African National Congress president Jacob Zuma.
Cosatu and many others believe that there is a political conspiracy against Zuma, who is due to stand trial for fraud and corruption.
”Where we draw the line is the attacks on an individual’s dignity without giving the courts an opportunity to make their own determination,” said Vavi.
He said he is disturbed by the tenor of the media reports and utterances from opinion makers, which have already found Zuma guilty, even when no court has made such a determination.
”This, in my view, undermines the role of the Constitution and the courts more than anything else.”
Vavi said it cannot be correct to ”paint us” as attackers of the independence of the judiciary when they disagree with some court judgements.
His and ANC Youth League president Julius Malema’s ”prepared to kill for Zuma” remarks, as well as attacks on the judiciary and Chief Justice Pius Langa, have recently made headlines and were condemned by many.
”The headlines were genuine criticisms of particular judicial decisions, which are then conflated into a supposed attack on the judiciary as a whole,” said Vavi.
He said judges are not ”infallible” and should be subjected to discussion, especially when they enter into the public arena.
”Nonetheless, even where we have criticised judges, we always respect the institution and have never mobilised our members to destroy the judiciary.” — Sapa