6th April 2009

The National Prosecuting Authority will today announce it’s decision about the Jacob Zuma prosecution, following new information the NPA says was handed to them. A presser is taking place at 11 this morning in Pretoria.

As usual, the DA will be trying to crash the party, hoping the cameras will be clicking away. GodZille’s a force of nature. I wonder if she’s kept her accreditation cards?

Doubtless the NPA will decide not to pursue the case any further – citing political interference in the prosecution of Zuma for alleged corruption. That’s probably a good thing. We need certainty. Let Zuma be president. Let’s get on with building our democracy and our country.

But we as South Africans have been warned. The country’s rulers, who have praiseworthy histories of struggle against oppression and prejudice, have become embroiled in a political and judicial mess. A struggle for power using state resources that are paid for by you and I. Some people even accuse them of manipulating the judiciary.

A free media and judiciary are essential to the vitality of democracy, as are the separation of party and state. I hope JZ and other senior leaders in the ruling party see the danger that the last few years have posed to our democracy. Let’s move on, now. Hopefully we are  wiser about the fragility of this beautiful, fleeting thing – democracy.

And let us all remember that the defence of democracy requires eternal vigilance. It was only recently that the Zimbabwe government routinely ignored court rulings and required journalists to register with big brother.