Court judgments are meant to be read in their entirety. Unfortunately, our warp-speed world rarely affords that luxury. So most of us rely on headlines or, at best, an interpretation by those skimming for the most sensational quotes.
Yesterday I read all 13 pages of High Court Justice Mabuse’s assessment of the case brought by the Helen Suzman Foundation against the appointment of Police General Berning Ntlemeza. It contains some lovely turns of phrase (eg “Minister must get more kicks than halfpence.”). But mostly it confirms a process now employed with impunity by those controlling South Africa’s political levers of power.
The scam on society works like this: When one of the Zupta cronies is found out, an investigator gets appointed. If their conclusions are not what is desired, a “friendlier” one is found for a second opinion. Invariably the first (honest) assessment is shredded and the second (fabricated) report made public, encouraging sycophants to claim legitimacy for the alternative version of the truth wanted all along.
The judiciary is the only really effective check against this nefarious process. That’s why the robbery of computers from the Chief Justice is an outrage. A year ago an identical information-gathering robbery happened at the Helen Suzman Foundation’s offices. A Police investigation never really started. Still no suspects have been identified. A repeat must not recur. This is simply too important.
