Archive · 21 Aug 2026
How Rule of Law Varies Across Courts and Countries Worldwide
The article says that countries do not all apply the law equally well.
Some countries have courts and governments that are more independent and fair.
Others struggle with corruption, violence or closed government.
South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, was questioned about money stolen from his country property.
He said the money came from selling buffaloes and that he had hidden it there.
Former spy chief Arthur Fraser gave police a different account of the amount involved.
Ramaphosa stayed president after the 2024 election, but some coalition parties supported possible impeachment.
The article says South Africa’s independent courts have helped protect its democracy.
It also says no country has perfect justice, but many achieve a workable version of it.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa faced scrutiny in 2022 over $580,000 in foreign currency stolen from his country property.
Former spy chief Arthur Fraser alleged that the money amounted to $4 million and reported the matter to police.
Ramaphosa said the cash came from a foreign buyer’s purchase of buffaloes and was hidden at the property.
The World Justice Project ranks countries on rule-of-law measures including corruption, open government and criminal justice.
Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden ranked highest, while Haiti, Cambodia, Afghanistan and Venezuela ranked lowest.
- Who
- Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa’s president; Arthur Fraser, the country’s former chief spy; South African Parliament, courts and media; and countries assessed by rule-of-law indexes.
- What
- The article examines how rule of law operates across countries and discusses the controversy over cash stolen from Ramaphosa’s property.
- When
- The Ramaphosa allegations arose in 2022; he remained president after the 2024 election.
- Where
- The central case concerns South Africa, while the rankings compare countries worldwide.
- Why
- The article uses the case and international indexes to show that justice is imperfect and that countries differ in their adherence to the rule of law.
More favorable assessments
More critical assessments
South Africa’s rule of law
More favorable assessments
The article’s author believes South Africa should rank higher than 60th, pointing to the independence of its courts and its preservation of democratic structures after apartheid.
More critical assessments
The World Justice Project places South Africa 60th, while the country continues to face very high violent crime and extreme wealth inequality.
Cash investigation
More favorable assessments
Ramaphosa said the money was from a buffalo sale, was foreign currency and had not been spent; police and his party accepted his explanation at the time.
More critical assessments
Arthur Fraser reported that Ramaphosa had received $4 million, prompting police scrutiny; Parliament, the courts and media continued to contest the matter, and impeachment remained possible.
Measuring justice
More favorable assessments
The article argues that a rough, imperfect version of justice is generally sufficient and that South Africa’s independent courts have helped preserve democracy.
More critical assessments
The international rankings show substantial differences among countries, with the United States ranked 27th, South Africa 60th and several countries at the bottom of the scale.
- Ramaphosa cash explanation
- He said the money was proceeds from a cash sale of buffaloes to a foreigner and had been hidden at his country property.
- Amount reported by Arthur Fraser
- Fraser alleged that the amount was $4 million.
- Amount in Ramaphosa’s account
- The article describes Ramaphosa’s explanation as involving $580,000.
- World Justice Project ranking
- The index evaluates countries on areas including absence of corruption, open government and criminal justice.
- Highest-ranked countries
- Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden occupy the top four positions, in that order.
- Lowest-ranked countries
- Haiti, Cambodia, Afghanistan and Venezuela occupy the bottom four positions.
- South Africa’s ranking
- South Africa is ranked 60th by the World Justice Project, ahead of Thailand and Brazil.
- South Africa’s political situation
- After the 2024 election, Ramaphosa remained president in a coalition government in which some parties were willing to impeach him.