Democratic+institutions+on+a+firm+footing,+ANC+Today

ANC Today
=Rule of law: Democratic institutions on a firm footing=


 * Volume 6, No. 18 . 12 -18 May 2006**

=RULE OF LAW=


 * //Democratic institutions on a firm footing//**

The trial of ANC Deputy President Jacob Zuma, which came to a conclusion in the Johannesburg High Court this week, confirms that our democratic institutions are on a firm footing.

This was the view of the ANC and its Alliance partners - the SA Communist Party (SACP) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) – who welcomed and accepted the judgement acquitting Deputy President Zuma on a charge of rape.

The Alliance partners have consistently indicated their support for the principled position that the law should be allowed to take its course, and that the rights and dignity of both the complainant and the accused needed to be respected and upheld.

The Alliance welcomed the fact that the case was conducted in line with key tenets of South African justice. These included that no-one shall be above the law, as enshrined in the Freedom Charter; the statement contained in our Constitution that: "Everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law"; and the Criminal Procedure Second Amendment Bill, 2001, which says: "the accused has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty beyond reasonable doubt".

"We are relieved that this trial has come to a conclusion, as it has been distressing not only for the families involved, but also for the Alliance and the country as a whole.

"The trial process confirms that our democratic institutions, which we fought for over many years, are on a firm footing. The verdict was reached after an exhaustive and transparent process.

"We call on all South Africans to accept and respect the judgement handed down today. The judgement means that Jacob Zuma is innocent of the charges levelled against him, and, as the judge indicated, was falsely accused," the Alliance partners said in a statement.

Support for due legal process and respect for the judgement, regardless of its finding, is a necessary part of our common responsibility to uphold and protect South Africa's democratic constitutional order.

The Alliance extended a special message of support and empathy to both families involved, who, during a distressing time, have had to endure the public exposure of personal details that would under other circumstances have remained private.

The Alliance partners reaffirmed their abhorrence of the crime of rape and all other forms of violence against women. We will continue to press for the severest possible punishments for those found guilty of such offences.

They noted the comments made by Judge Willem van der Merwe on the need of all sections of society, including the media and other commentators, to respect the court and due process of law, not to proceed from a position of ignorance, and to understand that evidence led in a trial should not be taken as policy statements, particularly regarding the issue of HIV and AIDS.

Now that the case has been brought to an end, the Alliance commended its membership, in particular, and the people of South Africa, in general, for heeding the call to allow the legal process to run its course; to respect the rights and dignity of those involved; and to exercise discipline, patience and restraint.


 * From: http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/anctoday/2006/at18.htm#art1**

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