Issued by: Office of the President
31 August 1999
This morning President Thabo Mbeki spoke to the Minister of Justice Mr Penuell Maduna to discuss the comments he made at the Pretoria Press Club on the functioning of the Judicial system. Contrary to what is projected in some reports, Minister Maduna did not focus his comments only on the judges.
Rather, he reviewed the functioning of the judicial system including the prosecution, the Magistrate Courts, the Justice Department, Supreme Court and Constitutional Court.
His comments were not intended as an attack on any judge. The remarks were occasioned by the work he and other Ministers are engaged in to ensure that government radically and urgently improves its capacity to deal with the challenges of crime and corruption, which continue to afflict our society.
He regrets having mentioned the names of judges Kriegler and Goldstone. He did not seek to question their integrity and therefore apologises for any harm his comments may have caused them.
He also expresses his full confidence in the Constitutional Court and believes that other courts should be better resourced so that they are best able to carry out their functions.
President Thabo Mbeki has also been in contact with the Judge President of the Constitutional Court with regard to these matters. Minister Maduna will continue to engage the Constitutional Court to address all outstanding questions.
Issued by the Office of the Presidency
Tuynhuys
Cape Town
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