Chairperson, I would like to refer the hon member to the response given by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development at a media briefing by the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security cluster on 20 February 2011.
At this briefing, the Minister indicated that:
...we are a constitutional democracy in South Africa and I want to repeat once again that Mr Dewani is going to receive a fair trial in the Republic of South Africa. He has the right like any other citizen that is protected and enshrined in our Constitution. He has the right to remain silent; he has the right to use evidence to challenge any evidence that will be put before him. Our judiciary is independent and subject to the Constitution and the law. Whoever says anything outside the court process is totally irrelevant. Presiding officers, being magistrates or judges, uphold the rule of law and they take a decision on the basis of what is being put in front of them.
Thank you.