UNWARRANTED & MALICIOUS ATTACKS ON JUDGES GO UNREBUKED
29 June 2015
Congress of the People strongly condemns the unwarranted and malicious attacks on our judges by leading figures in the tripartite alliance.
It is totally unacceptable that the ANC, SACP and ANCYL are banding together to accuse the country's judges of bias and partiality without any substantiation whatsoever (see report). This is reckless and irresponsible political behaviour deserving of a sharp rebuke from President Zuma. Tragically, this is not forthcoming.
There is no difference between the SACP second secretary Solly Mapaila and Gwede Manthase with regard to their views on the judiciary. They are birds of a feather flocking together.
What is, however, very shocking is the total silence of the President on the criticism of the judges. He is offering absolutely no leadership. His silence is a condonation of their wild and abusive statements aimed at the judges. All of the anti-democrats in the ruling party are once again coming together to attack the rule of law and the President says nothing.
The President seems too afraid to speak out because his supporters will remind him about their mobilizing thousands of people in front of the court when he faced a charge of rape. They will remind him also of the thousands who were bussed in when he faced more than 700 charges of corruption. The very people who carried Tony Yengeni shoulder high to Polsmoor Prison are mustering once again to show their contempt and disdain for the rule of law. The ruling party disdains the rule of law openly and volubly.
COPE wants to warn the ruling party and its alliance partners that the silent majority will not forfeit the gains of the struggle. Nor will they allow democracy to die. The people will never support a lawless country that continues to inflict serious damage to the economy and unleash chaos and misery on them. Their patience is long but not inexhaustible. People will rise up against those who want to turn our country into a banana republic fit for cockroaches.
Cope wants to congratulate our judges for upholding their oaths of office and manifesting independence and integrity. Society values their work immensely and continues to place its utmost faith and singular trust in our courts.
Cope wants to challenge President Zuma to come out of the closet and to condemn the malicious and unwarranted attacks on our judges by leaders in the ruling party. It is time he showed some integrity and leadership. After all, how many times does he need to be reminded that he, his Ministers and all ruling party public representatives took a solemn oath to uphold and defend the constitution. Let them honour their solemn undertakings.
Statement issued by Dennis Bloem, COPE spokesperson, June 29 2015
