This week, South Africans woke up to the news of a legal showdown going on between the former President Jacob Zuma and South Africa`s Judicial system. Jacob Zuma refuses to obey court orders requiring him to testify at a judicial inquiry into corruption charges against him. His refusal will make things even worse for himself as Zuma had previously not shown up to testify at the commission hearing. Because he failed to testify, the former President faces criminal charges. Authorities will take further actions against Zuma if he fails to honor a scheduled appearance for the same hearings this month.
Former President Jacob Zuma Refuses to go to Court.
According to Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, who chairs the commission he says Mr. Zuma considers himself above the law and the constitution. Zuma even went so far as to mention publicly that he intended to defy a court order to appear at the inquiry. Many South Africans see Zuma`s actions as just his way of testing President Cyril Ramaphosa`s new government. When President Ramaphosa`s government took over from Zuma`s, they promised to take decisive action against pervasive corruption. Sadly in this pursuit, Ramaphosa`s government found Zuma to be a central figure in the widespread corruption while he was President.
Former President Zuma is accused of allowing members of a controversial family to acquire South Africa`s lucrative state contracts. Additionally, Mr. Zuma allegedly permitted members of the Gupta family to influence his Cabinet appointments. Because of this, Zuma has been implicated in at least 36 affidavits before the commission in South Africa. Different individuals across the country presented these affidavits, including the former ministers of his cabinet. Furthermore, witnesses in the corruption cases had testified before the Court that Zuma abused their resources. Some of these witnesses say Zuma used their resources for his personal political interests throughout the period in which he ruled South Africa.
The commission in South Africa Plans to take Legal Actions against Zuma.
Since the hearing began, Zuma has accused the commission of being biased against him. Because of this, he has stated severally that he will never appear before the commission. Zuma believes he is being singled out for different and special treatment by the judiciary and the legal system as a whole. He has refused to offer any more cooperation to the commission from now on and says he will readily and willingly be jailed for his defiance.
But the commission insists that they are doing things by the book. They add that in terms of the constitution, everyone is equal before the law. Thus, the commission has stated that if Zuma goes forward with his decision not to appear before the Court, they will have to take further actions against him. Zuma`s actions will cause him to be in breach of the summons and contempt of the Constitutional Court order.
According to a political analyst in South Africa, Miyelani Mkhabela, the commission will have to take firm action against Zuma. The commission needs to preserve its legitimacy as the highest Court in South Africa. Miyelani believes that Zuma intends to cast doubt on the integrity of the commission. If the former head of state succeeds, other potential witnesses and people facing allegations will follow suit. Furthermore, the former President will have succeeded in defying the constitution of South Africa.
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