Former president Kgalema Motlanthe has warned against disrespect for constitutional bodies such as the public protector and the judiciary, saying the culture could lead to the country becoming a dictatorship.

Motlanthe, who recently got a tongue-lashing from President Jacob Zuma, yesterday said that without the independence of the courts and other constitutional structures, SA and the continent's democracies face "mortal danger".

The former ANC deputy president was speaking at the symposium of the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in SA (Eisa) in Rosebank, Johannesburg.

The two-day gathering was themed "Recent trends in constitutional reforms in Africa: How do constitutions help or hinder democracy?"

"Our courts rely solely on the executive arm of government to implement their orders, injunctions and judgments.

"Is it possible, for example, that in some of our jurisdictions, the government does not fully comply with court orders either as a result of inertia, or incapacity, purposeful intent?

"Is there anything we can do to ensure that post-1990 political models . do not, as a result of the government's non-compliance with court orders and the law, degenerate and morph into dictatorship," asked Motlanthe.

His comments came after an outcry over the government's failure to comply with a court order not to allow Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir to leave SA.

Zuma has also come under fire for failing to implement the recommendations of public protector Thuli Madonsela that he repays a portion of the money spent on Nkandla.

Motlanthe reminded the audience that the public protector was set up to "watch the watchers", to prevent abuse of power and combat corruption.

"While the constitution sets high ethical and professional standards . it is fair to accept that such values are not adhered to at all times by all who hold power," he said.