SA's billion-dollar question: Should Jacob Zuma get amnesty so he goes quietly?
At first sight, the idea is a tempting one. But probe just a little bit deeper ... As the roof of Jacob Zuma’s presidency begins to cave in, there is the suggestion that, to save South Africa and the continuing damage that his incumbency is doing to the economy, he should be given amnesty.It would seem this is meant to give Zuma a cast iron assurance that the charges pertaining to his involvement in corrupt dealings around the arms deal be dropped. It would also serve as a guarantee that charges will never be reinstated.With such assurances, it is suggested, he can be pensioned off as a former president to spend the rest of his days watching over his chickens and lazing around by his firepool in Nkandla. South Africa will then be able to get on with the job of restoring its brand and getting the economy going again.At first sight, the idea is a tempting one. But probe just a little bit deeper and it becomes clear that it’s a very bad idea. When amnesty is justified Granting amnesty ...
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