Violent soldiers and police: A test of Cyril’s democracy

In his latest weekly letter to his “fellow South Africans”, President Cyril Ramaphosa reaffirmed the centrality of the Constitution and the fundamental rights it encapsulates in our democratic order.

Given the spate of litigation against aspects of the Covid-19 coronavirus lockdown regime, as well as the legitimacy of the Disaster Management Act and the national command council, it was important for the president to emphasise the rule of law.

Ramaphosa is rightly hailed as one of the architects of our Constitution and his ascendency to the leadership of the governing party and the country was seen as a victory for constitutionalists and constitutionalism alike.