House of cards without Constitution

by Letters Editor · April 10, 2014

From Tony Sturges, Johannesburg

A society without an ontological moral watchdog effectively polices itself � it justifies its own actions to the point where it expresses moral outrage and indignation when questioned on its actions, as is currently playing out on the Nkandla stage.

The new democratic dispensation was crafted by selfless individuals, whose aspirations were to take South Africa back from the brink of civil war and guide her forward to a time of prosperity and normalisation, where the poor and homeless would at last find justice.

The crown jewel of this new dispensation was the hard-fought-for Constitution; as journalist Stephen Grootes so aptly puts it, �the Constitution, quite deliberately, looks after the minorities�.

And by minorities I believe that he is not only referring to the numerical minorities but to economic and other disadvantaged minorities, those who always seem to get the rough end of the stick!

One of the remarkable parts of the Constitution is the provision of Chapter 9 institutions � those bodies whose critical role it is to protect democracy.

The public protector headed by Thuli Madonsela is one such body and while I am sure that Ms Madonsela does not claim deistic (ontological) qualities, she does fulfil a very important role, one which highlights corruption and maladministration which is to the detriment not only of the country but of the poor in particular.

To vilify the messenger, when the truth is brought into the light is the despicable tactic of those who know they have done wrong and want to take the spotlight off themselves.

It is an ominous sign and does not bode well for democracy in this country. It also throws a shadow over the future of the public protector�s office.

In their avarice, would not the beneficiaries of the �gravy� want to plug the hole which threatens to stop the flow?

The Southern African Catholic Bishops� Conference is quite right in expressing concern over the safety of the public protector�s office.

As Fr Peter-John Pearson said in the article �Church leaders: We must protect Thuli�s office� in The Southern Cross of March 26, �This is not about Thuli. This is about ensuring that we don�t allow political affiliation to get in the way of an important democratic institution.� For if the checks and balances of the Constitution are removed, then there is no stopping the fall into a failed state.

Perhaps while taking our Lord�s name in vain, Jacob Zuma might want to reflect on Jesus� attitude to the poor and disenfranchised and to self-aggrandisement in general. The words of Christ should echo portentously to those in power: �Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.� (Mt 25:40)