After yesterday’s monumental and unprecedented decision to send former president Jacob Zuma off to jail for 15 months following the Constitutional Court’s decision to find him in contempt of court for failing to appear before the Zondo Commission of inquiry into state capture, there’s a slew of opinion and analysis to go through. In this special edition, we’ll bring you all the reaction to the man who used the states’ coffers as his personal piggy bank and wielded his political power with such force, a tennis player at Wimbledon would be jealous of his swing.
“Having sailed so close to the brink of disaster, when the looting of state resources by members of the government itself had become common and the constitution and rule of law were trampled upon by the highest office in the land,” Business Day writes in its editorial that we have been calmly put back on course as a nation following the ruling by the country’s top judges.
Still, political editor at News24, Qaanitah Hunter believes Zuma’s allies will try to paint him as the ultimate victim and portray him as a martyr to his fiercely loyal supporters. “Zuma’s supporters have quickly mounted their response by comparing Zuma to former Brazilian president Lula da Silva, who was imprisoned for close to a year, but released when his imprisonment was found to be unlawful,” writes Hunter. (Subscribe to read)
But Daily Maverick opinionista, Andrew Ihsaan Gasnolar, hailed the apex court’s decisive decision as a reaffirming moment for all citizens. Our belief and faith in the rule of law and the constitution was restored yesterday, argues Gasnolar and he goes on to call President Ramaphosa to action. “President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa cannot wait for the outcomes of the State Capture Commission,” adding, “Now is not the time for Ramaphosa to drag his feet, but rather to act decisively to demand more from his colleagues in Cabinet.”
And finally, News24 legal journalist, Karyn Maughan delved into why Justices Leona Theron and Chris Jafta disagreed with the majority ruling. Justices Theron and Jafta argued that majority opinion was “heavy-handed” and disagreed with the decision to send Zuma to imprison the former president. According to Justice Theron, Mr Zuma should have received a suspended sentence for his infractions. (Subscribe to read)
Opinions and analysis on Zuma
- A victory for the courts and the Constitution: Today, it feels good to be South African – Daily Maverick
- Dissing Thuli Madonsela was the biggest mistake Jacob Zuma ever made – News24 (Subscribe to read)
- Zuma going to jail is (almost) unique in SA’s recent history – News24
- Zuma judgment: Why you should never give the judiciary the middle finger – News24 (Subscribe to read)
- Insidious: what Zuma’s jail card means for the ANC – Financial Mail (Subscribe to read)
- Zuma trial: Government must not back down now – The Citizen
- Jacob, Ace, Carl and Julius – wipe the smug smiles off their dials – The Citizen (Subscribe to read)
Business Opinions
