Attorney Michael de Broglio on: South Africa, Law, Politics, Attorneys, Sport, Photography, Technology, Gadgets, Media, Crime, Road Accidents Fund,
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I can understand the embarrassment of a State President being booed by large numbers of a crown in front of foreign dignitaries. I cannot understand why people are not more interested in investigating why the people are booing than who the people were booing. The ANC has apparently promised a full investigation of this matter and they are going to get to the bottom of who was booing. When you read something like that, as a lawyer, you just want to laugh.
Unless they are going to come up with some nonsense, without any names, facts or figures, that the people booing were from an opposition party, what on earth do they hope to achieve? What crime have the people booing committed? Will they be charged for bad manners? They seem to forget that there is such a thing called “freedom of speech” and while it has limits, such as hate speech, booing somebody is not going to constitute any criminal offence. Apart from that, I wonder how they plan to prove who was booing – by reviewing video footage? Does the fact that somebody’s mouth was open indicate that they must have been booing or could they have been doing something else? The story is so ludicrous that I am surprised that they ran with it for about 2 days threatening the action and it is one of those where you almost dare the people to say please, go ahead and arrest 3,000 people for booing and see what happens next. Unlike Putin’s Russia, we do actually have some rights and while quite honestly, if I was in the crowd, I would not have booed, despite my feelings towards the President, because I don’t think it was the right occasion for that, I cannot possibly imagine what they hope to achieve other than stopping booing at other events by making people believe that actually if you do boo the President, you could be prosecuted. The people who really walk away with egg on their faces are those who stand up and announce to the press that action is going to be taken! Oh please, who do you think you are fooling?
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Friday 20-Dec-13
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Comments
Liesl said:
on Wednesday 08-Jan-14 08:36 AM
In stark contrast to the rapturous applause received by former president Thabo Mbeki, and later crowds cheered loudly again when the names of the former presidents were mentioned. "Payday" comes for everyone Zuma and I think you are lined up for a bonus as well...
Sarah said:
on Monday 06-Jan-14 02:00 PM
No wonder why people are booing Zuma , this idea is crazy
Joyce said:
on Friday 20-Dec-13 12:58 PM
I think investigating the booing people it's waste of time and unnecessary investigation costs as I think it is unlikely that they will succeed in discovering the people who were booing.
Kaylee said:
on Friday 20-Dec-13 12:52 PM
VIVA freedom of Speech! If I was there I would have booed too. The people in this country are dissatisfied with the government, well clearly! You think with the never ending corruption, the scandals, misappropriation of funds, blue light brigades, Etolls. The list clearly goes on! Dam right, Ill continue to boo until someone with any concept of running a country comes into power and does something about the shocking state of this country. Doubt our dear present is going to dance his way out of this one...
Brenda said:
on Friday 20-Dec-13 10:15 AM
That is priceless.... there are much more serious issues to be dealt with and our government are more concerned about who booed the president? It should rather be a rude awakening to the president that he's people are not happy! Its amazing now that after this scenario, president Zuma now claims that he had nothing to do with the modification to his home? Amazing how the story changes now that he sees the people are turning against him. Lies and deceit is all we get from the government, and it is going to get very ugly if nothing is done about it.
Sorea said:
on Friday 20-Dec-13 10:04 AM
I would love to see the charge sheet!
Anjelica said:
on Friday 20-Dec-13 09:56 AM
That's just pathetic but yet so typical.. Always avoiding the obvious, I have to agree that it was not the right occasion for something like that. What does the rest of the world now think about South Africa? Booing the person they vote for, just doesn't make sense.
Alexis said:
on Friday 20-Dec-13 09:48 AM
Just accept the fact that you are not liked - reason for the booing. Maybe if you did more for the country than what you have done for yourself - you night be liked or even appreciated
Juliet said:
on Friday 20-Dec-13 09:47 AM
The SA government is like the RAFs defence attorneys. Obstructive without reason. All they are doing is trying to avoid Why the people were booing. It is the tactic of a bully without brains enough to actually argue properly. And as predictable as ever, Jacob Zuma is claiming he was never consulted about the upgrades for Nkandla. Of course it is completely normal that your own house gets renovated and you knew nothing about it!!!! Well at least now we know why they built the new pool, to put out any fires official reason. South African citizens are like geese being force fed to be made into foie gras. Pipes down our throats with rubbish being chugged down 24 hours a day and the jokers laughing all the way to the bank. Maybe amidst all their cheerfulness they will come up with some new ideas of how to further rape their citizens.
Johannesburg based attorney specializing in personal injury matters including Road Accident Fund claims and medical negligence matters. My interests include golf, reading and the internet and the way it is constantly developing. I have a passion for life and a desire for less stress!
