COSATU statement on the Constitutional Court Judgement on former President Jacob Zuma

July 17, 2023

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) notes the ruling by the Constitutional Court on former President Jacob Zuma’s previous sentence and parole.

We are a constitutional democracy governed by the rule of law. The Constitutional Court is the apex court. Government has an obligation to uphold the rule of law at all times, without fear or favour. All citizens must be treated equally.

Government needs to ensure all security measures are put in place to prevent a repeat of the July 2021 violence.

We cannot afford, when we have an unemployment rate of 42% and workers are already battling a myriad of other socio-economic challenges, to allow any further own goals. This comes at a time when we have witnessed the burning of long distance trucks on key economic routes, threatening the lives of workers who are truck drivers, their families and the nation’s economic security.

Law enforcement organs must play their role and be deployed accordingly. They must be resourced to do so.

The criminality that occurred in 2021 cannot be allowed to happen again. Those who attempt to orchestrate such behavior must immediately be collected and taken into the custody of the Police and Correctional Services.

The lives, jobs, property and rights of workers and ordinary South Africans must be protected at all times.

As we head towards the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement to be tabled at Parliament in October, Treasury needs to ensure that the Police, the National Prosecuting Authority, the judiciary and the South African National Defence Force have the resources they need to fulfill their constitutional mandates, including the urgent filling of all vacancies.

Statement issued by Matthew Parks, COSATU Acting National Spokesperson and Parliamentary Coordinator, 17 July 2023