FILE PHOTO: Chief Justice Raymond Zondo at the State Capture Commission. PICTURE: Gallo Images / Sowetan / Veli Nhlapo
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0 CAPE TOWN: CASAC said it regards the Chief Justice’s remarks as “unfortunate and ill-advised”.
Chief Justice Raymond Zondo has blamed both Parliament and the ANC in the National Assembly for the continuation of state capture in the country.
Zondo was speaking in a discussion that the Institute for African Alternatives hosted in Cape Town yesterday. He said the majority party does not allow its members to support a vote of no confidence in its current and previous presidents.
“Parliament had the opportunity and the power to stop state capture. Because if it had allowed the motions for the establishment of public inquiries, [and] parliamentary inquiries on all probabilities, state capture could have been stopped because of what would have been revealed.”
“But the fact of the matter [is] the majority party took the position that it is entitled to instruct its members not to vote with the opposition or not to support the motions from the opposition parties on those matters, including the motions of no confidence in the presidencies,” added Zondo.
Meanwhile, the institute’s acting director, Professor Ari Sitas, said a lot of people are anxiously waiting for the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture.
“I think there has been a lack. I think there have been delays and those will have to be explained. We have to understand why there have been delays. There was a promise that they would be addressed and a lot of them are still waiting. So the public is restless about this issue,” said Sitas.
“And of course it is compounded, there is going to be an election next and everybody is going to be shouting at each other. So, let’s look at it realistically, analytically and pass the judgment in the near future,” Sitas added.
Meanwhile, Zondo came under fire after he made comments on a news channel where he said former President Jacob Zuma must be prosecuted by the National Prosecution Authority (NPA).
The Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC) has expressed concern over Zondo’s recent public remarks. Zondo also recently shared his views during his appearance at the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council conference last week.
In a statement on Tuesday, CASAC said it regards the Chief Justice’s remarks as “unfortunate and ill-advised”.
The body, highlights, among other things Zondo’s concerning remarks regarding the pending arms deal corruption trial of former President Zuma as well as his insinuation that Zuma may, in future, benefit from a remission of sentence if tried and convicted.
CASAC is of the view that the Chief Justice’s remarks in the interview crossed the boundaries of acceptable speech by judges and should be reproached.
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