Statement by GOOD Leader, Patricia de Lille
8 July 2021
Few countries in the world have endured what South Africans have endured over a long period of time, lasting several decades, and culminating last night in the ultimate test of our very young and hard-fought-for democracy.
Ultimately, the litany of allegations implicating former President Jacob Zuma in wrongdoing, ventilated by a long list of witnesses who’ve appeared at the State Capture Commission, cannot go unanswered.
The events over the past few days have placed our justice and policing system under extreme pressure and we can celebrate that both our justice system and police service were resilient.
The court system held a former head of state accountable to the constitution and the law and the police service ultimately executed the court order by ensuring Zuma was in custody before midnight last night.
The South African Police Service must be acknowledged for the manner in which they executed the arrest – avoiding spectacle and conflict.
It is painful that Zuma tested our constitutional democracy to the extent that he did. We take no joy in seeing him arrested and incarcerated but we can celebrate that the rule of law prevailed.
I am mindful of the words of one of the world’s greatest statesmen, the late Former President Nelson Mandela: “I am a citizen of this country. We have a constitution which I am bound to respect as a citizen. That constitution does not give immunity to a President”.
Last night we witnessed that the constitution applies to us all. Just as Madiba said.