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Why Both Zuma and Trump Should be Held to Account

South Africa's former president Jacob Zuma, 78, saw his leadership of the governing African National Congress end with the election of Cyril Ramaphosa, in December 2017. Since then, Zuma has spent his retirement engaged in defensive action to stave off the threat of prosecution for past malfeasance going back two decades. This includes corruption and state capture charges. He shares this ignominy with his American counterpart, former U.S. president Donald Trump, who, like him, faces legal consequences for his attempts at subverting democracy while in office. Both former leaders have demonstrated their contempt for constitutional constraints, using their power while president, to destroy institutions of state, opines Roger Southall for The Conversation Africa. Zuma has refused to obey a Constitutional Court order that he appear at the Zondo Commission of Inquiry to testify on among others, the state capture allegations. He had previously walked out of the hearings, calling it unconstitutional and was charged with contempt of court.

South Africa: Why Both Trump and Zuma Should be Held to Account

The Conversation Africa, 2 February 2021

It can be tough when you are a former president in a democracy you have attempted to subvert, especially when that democracy comes back to bite you. Former South African president… Read more »
South Africa: Keeping the Faith With Constitutional Democracy - It's Not Too Late to Save South Africa

Daily Maverick, 2 February 2021

If we want to continue to live in a constitutional democracy under the rule of law we ought not to relax our vigilance. The Zuma-era agents are lurking everywhere, only the Guptas… Read more »
South Africa: South Africa Needs to Move Beyond Party Tropes to Hold Those Who Govern to Account

Daily Maverick, 2 February 2021

The state of our democracy has been partly shaped by the failures of the governing party, by populist personalities and the inability of our social compact to comprehensively… Read more »
South Africa: Dealing With Zuma - It's a Choice Between a Political and Constitutional Crisis

Daily Maverick, 2 February 2021

There are now two possible scenarios: Zuma is arrested and charged for his failure to honour the Constitutional Court ruling, or he is allowed to defy the courts. Read more »
South Africa: Mission Unaccomplished - Dissolve the State Security Agency and Create a New, Accountable, Expert Organisation

Daily Maverick, 2 February 2021

Evidence about the State Security Agency being heard at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture has revealed that a widespread network of traditional and off-the-books agents… Read more »