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Court has done its bit, now it’s up to politics

by Steven Friedman First published in Business Day For not the first time, many of us seem to need reminding that the Constitutional Court’s job is to make sure politicians stick to the rules — not to do their jobs for them. Last week’s Constitutional Court judgment deserves the cheers that greeted it — it Read more >

Media alert: civil society takes steps to reclaim democracy

URGENT MEDIA ALERT 05 April 2016 This evening an alliance of civil society, church, trade union and academic organisations held an urgent meeting to discuss the growing political and economic crisis that faces South Africa. In attendance were representatives of the Anglican Church of South Africa, the Evangelical Alliance, the South African Christian Leadership Initiative, Read more >

Download the Constitutional Court Nkandla judgment

Download the unanimous judgment delivered this morning by a full bench of the Constitutional Court. The full session is available below to watch: For your convenience we have also provided the media summary below: Today the Constitutional Court handed down judgment in a matter concerning the power of the Public Protector to “take appropriate remedial Read more >

Zuma, Nat Assembly violated Constitution, says ConCourt

The Constitutional Court has ruled that President Jacob Zuma failed to uphold his duties as prescribed by the Constitution in dealing with the findings of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela with regard to Nkandla. Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng said Zuma “failed to defend, uphold and protect the Constitution of the land” in the matter and his Read more >

CW welcomes ConCourt Nkandla ruling

Corruption Watch applauds today’s Constitutional Court judgment which finds that the rulings of the Public Protector are binding and can only be set aside upon judicial review. The judgment reinforces the provision in the Constitution for all organs of state to protect and promote the Chapter 9 institutions. This includes taking positive steps to safeguard Read more >

Zuma: the Ozymandias of the south

By Mavuso Msimang First published in City Press Percy Bysshe Shelley’s famous sonnet Ozymandias, first published in 1818, tells the story of a traveller in the desolate Egyptian desert who comes upon a broken statue of King Rameses II, whom the Greeks called Ozymandias. What remained of this pharaoh’s statue were two huge stone legs Read more >

Zuma: Nxasana wanted to leave

Nine months after Mxolisi Nxasana resigned from his position, President Jacob Zuma says the former National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) head did what was best for South Africa by leaving his post. Nxasana resigned from the NPA abruptly last June amid controversy and while an inquiry into his fitness for office was under way. Zuma was Read more >

Betrayal of public trust must be investigated

The controversy surrounding the relationship between the president and the Gupta family demands immediate resolution. It is a particularly damaging distraction at a time when the country faces pressing economic problems, problems that are strongly related to the governance issues represented in the Gupta affair. In essence, business interests represented by the Gupta family stand Read more >

Nation waits for Seriti report

The Arms Procurement Commission, also known as the Seriti Commission, submitted its final report covering four years of proceedings, just before the end of 2015. The deadline for the report’s submission was 31 December 2015, and the commission filed it on the 30th. At the start hopes were high that together, the witnesses would finally Read more >