Chief Justice Pius Langa announced on Monday that people who criticise court rulings should not impugn the dignity or integrity of judges.

His comments followed African National Congress leaders who were quoted as saying that judges who made decisions against party leader Jacob Zuma were counter-revolutionaries or drunkards.

Langa was speaking while announcing an International Constitutional Court Judges Conference to be held in Cape Town over the weekend.

The country’s top judges came under intense pressure during the Zuma saga.

Langa said they accepted fair and reasonable criticism.

“Now what we would not want is criticism which goes to the integrity of the person,” said Langa.

He also said they made sure to stay impartial.

“If people shout we try not to let them influence us one way or another."  

Langa was sitting between Judges Kate O’Regan and Albie Sachs but the trio refused to answer direct questions about specific cases.