President Jacob Zuma has formally announced a review of the country's courts.
Speaking in parliament today, Zuma said an intitiative to assess the impact and effect of the decisions of the superior courts, in particular the constitutional court, will be undertaken in this year.
His full satement on the issue follows below:
"As outlined by minister Radebe an intitiative to assess the impact and effect of the decisions of the superior courts, in particular the constitutional court, will be undertaken in this year."
"This assessment is with a view to reflect on the impact of the constitutional jurisprudence in the past 17 years of what democracy towards the realisation of the transformation goals envisaged by the constitution."
"The assessment will also focus on the role of the other arms of the state in giving effect to the court judgements. We reiterate that this exercise must not be viewed as an attempt by government to undermine the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law which are enshrined in our constitution."
"It is in reality the enhancement of our constitutional of our constitutional democracy.
We reaffirm our firm belief in the seperation of powers and the independence of the judiciary and of all three arms of the state."
"We wish to emphasise that this exercise as decided on by cabinet in November last year falls within the mandate of the executive of formulating and reviewing policies of government."
"There is nothing unusual or untoward about this. The chief whip of the majority party, (Mathole) Mothsekga in fact reminded us that constitutions the world over are dynamic and subject to review. In recognition of this fact our constitution provides that it must be reviewed at least annually by parliament in terms of Section 45 (1) (C), that is why there is the constitutional review committee in parliament."
"Therefore reviewing these matters is not a matter foreign to what our constitition dictates, we are actually within our mandate."
