Shrien Dewani: DA supports Minister Radebe in giving assurance of fair trial

The official opposition supports Justice Minister Jeff Radebe, who has expressed confidence that Mr Shrien Dewani will get a fair trial in South Africa. The South African Constitution and judiciary are respected for good reason. The Dewani camp and its publicity agents are self-evidently attacking the prospects of a fair trial for self-serving purposes.

In these circumstances it is deplorable that a one-man local commentator like Paul Hoffman, who purports to speak for something called the Institute for Public Accountability in Southern Africa, joins so indefatigably and frequently in its efforts. On Monday in a lengthy opinion piece published by Business Day, he rubbished the entire Western Cape bench by suggesting that even if "the Judge President does not hear the case himself, it is still by or through him that the trial judge will be allocated".

Statement issued by Dene Smuts MP, Democratic Alliance Shadow Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, January 13 2011

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