Justice Minister, Ronald Lamola, has warned against verbal attacks directed at judges. He says if they’re not followed with facts and conclusive investigations, the verbal assaults can erode the confidence of society in the judiciary.
“Attacks and allegations and conspiracies against the judiciary if not followed up with facts and conclusive investigations there must not be spurious allegations against the judiciary. There is nothing wrong to give a fair criticism against judgments and against decisions of the judiciary but it must be informed by facts and not conspiracies,” the Minister said during a debate on the State of the Nation Address (Sona) in Parliament.
During the debate on Tuesday, EFF leader Julius Malema took a swipe on the judiciary.
Malema accused the judiciary of thinking that it is untouchable, saying judges must stop thinking that they are the law.
Former president Jacob Zuma has also accused some judges of lawlessness, saying they have left their constitutional post for political expediency.
In his letter explaining his decision not to appear before the State Capture Commission on Monday, Zuma said some judges have become the extension of political forces that seek to control and destroy the country.
The governing ANC’s military veterans association, the MKMVA, has also expressed support for Zuma’s decision to defy a subpoena to appear before Justice Raymond Zondo, who is chairing the the State Capture Commission.
2021 State of the Nation Address Debate Day 2:
