Last week, former South African President Jacob Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court. The former leader received the sentence after he ignored an order to testify at a corruption investigation during his nine years in power.
After defying the court’s orders, Zuma was given five days to surrender to the court, after which police were ordered to arrest him. But the former South African leader did not hand himself in. The court then sent the top police officers in to arrest the former leader. The authorities however said they would wait for the completion of Zuma’s two-pronged legal battle.
Zuma attempts to overturn his detention
This week, Zuma attempted to have his detention overturned in court. He petitioned the constitutional court to cancel his conviction and has petitioned the supreme court to issue an interdict preventing his arrest. The judge hearing the case said he would rule on Friday at 11:30 a.m (0930 GMT) on whether to grant the interdict.
After the court hearing, Zuma spoke to journalists lashing out at the judges who convicted him. The former leader compared the judges to the white minority rulers he fought during the civil rights movement.
To avoid his arrest, hundreds of his fans, some armed, gathered around his rural homestead. Outside the courthouse, 20 to 30 Zuma supporters demonstrated, brandishing placards that read “The people’s president deserves a fair trial” and wearing “Hands off Zuma” t-shirts.
According to experts, Zuma’s latest act of defiance tests the South African rule of law. It has the potential to devolve into violence because the former president still has supporters in his native region of KwaZulu-Natal as well as within the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
Different arguments made in court
Zuma’s lawyer Dali Mpofu has urged the Pietermaritzburg High Court to grant his client the interdict given. Mr. Dali has argued that the court should consider the aggravated situation since Zuma`s sentencing and factors including his age. Meanwhile, a lawyer for the corruption inquiry Tembeka Ngcukaitobi said Zuma had to hand himself to the authorities. Tembeka said this was necessary irrespective of his application for the constitutional court to cancel its sentence.
The former leader refused to attend the inquiry investigating claims against him. According to the inquiry he allowed three Indian-born businessmen, Atul, Ajay, and Rajesh Gupta, to loot public resources. Additionally, Zuma allegedly allowed the three to exert influence over government policy. Zuma and the Gupta brothers, who fled the country after Cyril Ramaphosa’s allies deposed him, deny any wrongdoing.
The state attorney acting for the police minister and police commissioner has asked the acting chief justice to allow them to hold back from arresting Zuma pending the outcome of his litigation or directions to act otherwise. Meanwhile, a fellow Senior ANC party official, Jessie Duarte, reported that the party was aware Zuma was exploring every legal means to reduce or escape his prison sentence.
Jessie Duarte added that the ANC party supports the idea that the judiciary must make its own decision. She however hoped that comrade Zuma’s application would be successful.
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