Govt worried about Zuma threats
2008-08-07 14:12
Pretoria - Threats by supporters of ANC President Jacob Zuma to make the country ungovernable should he be sent to jail were cause for concern, the government said on Thursday.
Briefing the media following Cabinet's fortnightly meeting, government spokesperson Themba Maseko said while Cabinet did not specifically discuss the issue, it was generally concerned about attacks directed at the judiciary.
"As government we are extremely concerned about a lot of the statements being made, particularly against the judiciary which basically seems to be suggesting that our judiciary is not independent," he said.
While people are entitled to make statements, every citizen had a responsibility to protect the integrity and reputation of the country's constitutional structures.
"Cabinet is of the view that if we begin to do things and say things and behave in a manner that suggest that we do no not respect the integrity of a constitutional structure, that could actually send a very wrong signal to our citizens," he said.
Maseko said government would engage the ANC leadership on the matter.
"There is interaction and regular contacts between government and the ruling party to make sure that all issues of concern are discussed... and those processes in my view will continue," he said.
- SAPA