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LSSA statement on respect for judiciary
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The Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) has repeated its call for respect for the judiciary and for a cessation of attacks on judges in their personal capacities. Last week the LSSA’s council members issued a statement expressing grave concern at the unrelenting, improper and thoughtless attacks on the judiciary and other institutions of justice in recent weeks.
The LSSA has repeated its call, particularly in the light of derogatory and improper remarks made by the Chief Executive Officer of the Road Accident Fund (RAF) against Cape High Court Acting Judge President Jeanette Traverso. Judge Traverso found in favour of the LSSA against the RAF on 8 August 2008 in the matter in which the LSSA challenged the validity of the RAF’s direct payment system. The LSSA again said it guards the independence of the judiciary and the independence of the profession jealously and vigilantly, and cannot tolerate opportunistic inferences such as those made by Mr Modise.
In addition, the LSSA denies the accusations of ‘racism’ leveled by the RAF’s CEO against it. The LSSA points out that claimants in RAF matters that are assisted to lodge and prosecute their claims by attorneys span all race and income groups. Also, the LSSA represents attorneys of all races, with its six constituent members being the four statutory provincial law societies, the Black Lawyers Association and the National Association of Democratic Lawyers.
The LSSA welcomes the Department of Transport’s indication that it respects the judgment of the court, and urges all other stakeholders to do the same. It stresses that is the collective responsibility of all South Africans to protect the institutions of democracy, in particular the judiciary.
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Posted by Michael de Broglio on Tuesday 12-Aug-08
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