DEMOCRACY HANGS IN THE BALANCE

(My letter published in today's Pretoria News)

Our constitutional democracy is in peril. Democracy is not only about holding elections. In a genuine democracy, that is a constitutional democracy where the rule of law is clearly enshrined, the power of the state is limited by various mechanisms that limit power abuse by the ruling party.
The government of President Jacob Zuma has propelled cronyism and moral decay to new, unfortunate heights. Corrupted by a police chief who has no regard for the law, our society finds itself at the mercy of a bully law enforcer who cannot distinguish between authority and power abuse. The declaration of war against Public Protector Thuli Madonsela is alarming and illustrates the government’s irritation with independent institutions that are supposed to protect the interests of the public.
National Police Commissioner General Bheki Cele personifies the police’s transformation of a cop culture into a mob culture. The police’s reputation as a trustworthy law enforcing agency is in serious jeopardy. No respectable democratic country will tolerate the likes of Cele in a senior govern position –least of all in the position of top cop.
By failing to intervene in the Cele / public protector stand-off, Zuma will confirm his unwillingness to uphold the rule of law. Siding with a senior civil servant who is clearly out of line will cast a shadow of doubt over the governments’ commitment to clean governance. The leadership void at the highest level of government threatens to destroy our constitutional democracy. To echo Alan Paton, cry, our beloved country.