Former chief justice Raymond Zondo says that even at the height of the July 2021 unrest following Jacob Zuma's imprisonment, 'we could not compromise on doing the right thing. Because if we did, what would be left of our constitutional democracy?'

Listen to this article 7 min Listen to this article 7 min Former chief justice Raymond Zondo says former president Jacob Zuma has tried to delegitimise the judiciary through his litigation against him and other attacks on the work of the Bench.

Zondo spoke to Daily Maverick in a wide-ranging interview in which he reflected on his role as head of South Africa's courts and being chairperson of the State Capture Commission of Inquiry. Zondo officially retired at the end of August and has been replaced by Justice Mandisa Maya, South Africa's first woman chief justice.

As commission chairperson, Zondo became a household name, simultaneously earning support in some sectors of society and ire in others.

Zondo had a simple explanation for why he turned into enemy Number 1 for Zuma and his supporters, who accused him of bias on several occasions.

"You know, his case is dealt with on the merits, like everyone else's case is dealt with on the merits. It's just a way of trying to tarnish the image of the judiciary, because he wants to delegitimise the judiciary, so that whenever the judiciary has found against him, people must think, 'Ah, it's this illegitimate judiciary'," Zondo...