The meeting between President Jacob Zuma and top judges scheduled for August 27 should remove the electorate's doubts about the future of this country. The judges called for the meeting after weeks of attacks on the judiciary by members of Zuma's executive and other senior politicians, including ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe and SA Communist Party leader Blade Nzimande. Even Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko joined the fray, saying that members of the judiciary reached judgments after consultation with outside elements.The attacks and the stand against them taken by judges point to an atmosphere that is toxic and full of suspicion.It is hoped that Zuma will show leadership and clear the air at the meeting - and that he will call on his comrades to prove their case against the judiciary or shut up.Failure to end the mistrust, and more vitriol from the likes of Mantashe and Nzimande, will slowly snuff out our democracy.It is not that judges cannot be challenged on how they apply the law, but the free-for-all we have been subjected to in recent weeks is not good for the country.The judiciary and our Chapter 9 institutions must be given space in which to execute their constitutional mandates.We have seen this week how things can take a wrong turn when politicians are given free rein to challenge and attack a Chapter 9 institution with impunity.It is of concern that Public Protector Thuli Madonsela is forced to use external channels to communicate with parliament.It is also worrying that those who should hold the executive to account are sleeping on the job and preventing scrutiny of the executive.The Nkandla scandal will not go away for as long as we try to short-circuit the system to satisfy the agenda of today...