1 April 2025
Blaai af vir Afrikaanse weergawe.
The Rule of Law Project, an initiative of the Free Market Foundation (FMF), notes with disappointment the Constitutional Court’s decision on Thursday, 27 March 2025 to dismiss AfriForum’s application for leave to appeal in the “Kill the Boer” matter. The Rule of Law Project intervened in this case at the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) as a friend of the court (amicus curiae).
The FMF remains steadfast in its commitment to advocating for equality before the law – a cornerstone of constitutionalism and a prosperous society.
“We sought to ensure that both courts – the SCA and Constitutional Court – understood the importance of applying legal principles consistently and fairly, regardless of the parties involved,” says Martin van Staden, FMF Head of Policy. “Unfortunately, the highest court’s decision represents a significant blow against equal application of the law in South Africa.”
In its submissions to the SCA, Adv Mark Oppenheimer argued on behalf of the Rule of Law Project that the principle of equality before the law must be vigilantly safeguarded, especially when assessing public statements by powerful politicians.
This was argued in light of the many contemporary cases wherein relatively powerless civilians were ordered to pay heavy fines or serve jail time for their utterances.
“But when significantly more heinous things were said by political elites like Julius Malema – who only doubles down when asked to explain the ‘context’ – not so much as a slap on the wrist has been in the officering,” says Van Staden.
The Constitutional Court’s decision to dismiss the appeal, finding no reasonable prospects of success, reflects a troubling perspective that potentially confirms a broader trend in South African jurisprudence that risks diluting the robust application of equality and political accountability under the law. This trend will erode public confidence in the legal system and weaken the constitutional promise of an open and free society.
The FMF and its Rule of Law Project reaffirms an unwavering commitment to fighting for equality at law.
“A society governed by clear, impartial, and consistently applied legal standards is essential for fostering prosperity and social cohesion,” concludes Van Staden. “Our work will continue to focus on defending the rule of law as a bedrock principle, ensuring that all South Africans –regardless of their inborn characteristics – are protected under the Constitution.”
Ends.
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“Kill the Boer:” FMF teleurgesteld oor Grondwetlike Hof besluit, maar bly vasberade oor regsgelykheid
1 April 2025
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Die Rule of Law-projek, ‘n inisiatief van die Vryemarkstigting (FMF), neem met teleurstelling kennis van die Grondwetlike Hof se besluit op Donderdag, 27 Maart 2025, om AfriForum se aansoek om verlof tot appèl in die “Kill the Boer”-saak van die hand te wys. Die Rule of Law-projek het in hierdie saak by die Hoogste Hof van Appèl (HHA) as ‘n vriend van die hof (amicus curiae) betree.
Die FMF bly standvastig in sy verbintenis om te pleit vir gelykheid voor die reg – ‘n hoeksteen van konstitusionalisme en ‘n voorspoedige samelewing.
“Ons het gepoog om te verseker dat beide howe – die HHA en die Grondwetlike Hof – die belangrikheid om regsbeginsels konsekwent en billik toe te pas, ongeag die betrokke partye, verstaan,” sê Martin van Staden, FMF Beleidshoof. “Ongelukkig verteenwoordig die hoogste hof se besluit ‘n beduidende slag teen die gelyke toepassing van die reg in Suid-Afrika.”
In sy argumente aan die HHA het Adv Mark Oppenheimer namens die Rule of Law-projek geargumenteer dat die beginsel van regsgelykheid waaksaam bewaar moet word, veral wanneer openbare uitsprake deur magtige politici beoordeel word.
Dit is geargumenteer in die lig van die talle hedendaagse sake waarin relatief magtelose burgers beveel is om swaar boetes te betaal of tronkstraf uit te dien vir hul uitsprake.
“Maar wanneer aansienlik afskuweliker dinge deur politieke elites soos Julius Malema gesê word – wat net verhard in sy standpunt wanneer hy gevra word om die ‘konteks’ te verduidelik – is daar nie eens ‘n ligte teregwysing in die vooruitsig nie,” sê Van Staden.
Die Grondwetlike Hof se besluit om die appèl te verwerp, met die bevinding dat daar geen redelike vooruitsigte op sukses is nie, weerspieël ‘n kommerwekkende perspektief wat moontlik ‘n breër neiging in Suid-Afrikaanse regspleging bevestig wat die kragtige toepassing van gelykheid en politieke aanspreeklikheid onder die reg in gevaar stel. Hierdie neiging sal openbare vertroue in die regstelsel ondermyn en die grondwetlike belofte van ‘n oop en vrye samelewing verswak.
Die FMF en sy Rule of Law-projek herbevestig ‘n onwankelbare verbintenis om te veg vir gelykheid voor die reg.
“’n Samelewing wat beheer word deur duidelike, onpartydige, en konsekwent toegepaste regstandaarde is noodsaaklik om voorspoed en sosiale samehorigheid te bevorder,” sluit Van Staden af. “Ons werk sal aanhou fokus op die verdediging van die oppergesag van die reg as ‘n grondbeginsel, om te verseker dat alle Suid-Afrikaners – ongeag hul aangebore eienskappe – onder die Grondwet beskerm word.”
Einde.
