A man of integrity, dignity, humility, and honest. That’s how activists and Citizens Forum described outgoing Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.
The organisation’s spokesperson, Dennis Bloem, said Justice Zondo was a patriot who loved his country dearly, who was willing to put his own life in danger in an effort to rid the country of corruption.
“Activists and Citizens Forum (ACF) will never forget how Chief Justice Raymond Zondo was insulted and his life threatened by thieves who were busy destroying the economy of the country. They stole everything in front of them and captured the Executive, and Parliament.
“The country’s economy was destroyed in the process. People are sitting without jobs, and the country’s unemployment rate is the highest in the whole world because of thieves who insulted and threatened Chief Justice Raymond Zondo,” Bloem said.
He continued to say Justice Zondo has done everything in his power to expose the depth of the corruption and state capture in the country by producing a detailed report with findings, and clear recommendations.
“We are extremely disappointed that the Zondo Commission Report is gathering dust and not being implemented. We are quite sure that Chief Justice Zondo must be very disappointed with President Cyril Ramaphosa and Parliament that he is going into retirement, and not a single perpetrator mentioned in the report is in an orange uniform.
“President Ramaphosa has let Chief Justice Zondo down… Chief Justice Raymond Zondo must always remember that millions in the country appreciate his dedication, selflessness, and the sacrifices he made for the country.”
However, Justice Zondo has received a lot of criticism from NGOs and other groups, who accused him of undermining his office, following remarks he made in an interview on Newzroom Afrika, when he gave commentary on former president Jacob Zuma’s case at the time.
Early last year, Parliament’s spokesperson Moloto Mothapo took a swipe at Justice Zondo for saying he has not seen any change in Parliament, indicating that the institution would be able to identify and stop attempts to recapture the state.
Mothapo said it was inappropriate for the chief justice, representing one of the arms of the state to engage in public attacks on the Legislature.
“We note that the attacks are also directed at the Executive in so far as the current policy position of the electoral system is concerned. This is in the wake of a matter that is before the court on the electoral system,” he said at the time.
Mothapo said Parliament believed that using the established channels to address any concerns Justice Zondo may have regarding Parliament’s implementation of the recommendations of the inquiry into allegations of state capture, which Justice Zondo chaired, would have been more appropriate.
The Star
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