The Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) expresses grave concern at the comments relating to the courts made by President Jacob Zuma when addressing a gathering of Traditional Leaders in Pretoria yesterday.
‘The principle of audi alteram partem – or ‘listen to the other side’ – is vested in our legal system, and the insinuation that our courts listen only to one side of a story is ludicrous,’ say LSSA Co-Chairpersons Mvuso Notyesi and Jan van Rensburg.
They add: ‘The fact that this address – and the views relating to the courts – was made shortly after our highest court, the Constitutional Court, found that the President’s actions in relation to the Public Protector’s ‘Secure in Comfort’ report had been inconsistent with the Constitution, illustrates the President’s persistence in flouting the Rule of Law.’
The Co-Chairpersons stress that the President’s comments are regrettable and call on President Zuma to acknowledge clearly that South Africa is a constitutional democracy where the Rule of Law, the courts, the judiciary and the judgments of the courts must be respected by all, including the Government and the Head of State.
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE CO-CHAIRPERSONS OF THE LAW SOCIETY OF SOUTH AFRICA, MVUSO NOTYESI AND JAN VAN RENSBURG
by the Law Society of South Africa Communication Department
Tel: (012) 366 8800 or Website: www.LSSA.org.za
Law Society expresses grave concern at views by President Zuma on the courts
The Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) expresses grave concern at the comments relating to the courts made by President Jacob Zuma when addressing a gathering of Traditional Leaders in Pretoria yesterday.
‘The principle of audi alteram partem – or ‘listen to the other side’ – is vested in our legal system, and the insinuation that our courts listen only to one side of a story is ludicrous,’ say LSSA Co-Chairpersons Mvuso Notyesi and Jan van Rensburg.
They add: ‘The fact that this address – and the views relating to the courts – was made shortly after our highest court, the Constitutional Court, found that the President’s actions in relation to the Public Protector’s ‘Secure in Comfort’ report had been inconsistent with the Constitution, illustrates the President’s persistence in flouting the Rule of Law.’
The Co-Chairpersons stress that the President’s comments are regrettable and call on President Zuma to acknowledge clearly that South Africa is a constitutional democracy where the Rule of Law, the courts, the judiciary and the judgments of the courts must be respected by all, including the Government and the Head of State.
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE CO-CHAIRPERSONS OF THE LAW SOCIETY OF SOUTH AFRICA, MVUSO NOTYESI AND JAN VAN RENSBURG
by the Law Society of South Africa Communication Department
Tel: (012) 366 8800 or Website: www.LSSA.org.za
Contact: Barbara Whittle, Communication Manager, barbara@LSSA.org.za (012) 366 8800 or 083 380 1307
