By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@SandileNdlovu.
Embattled former president Jacob Zuma on Sunday launched a public offensive against the judiciary, state capture inquiry chairperson Raymond Zondo and former public protector Thuli Madonsela, blaming them for his current woes.
Zuma was addressing hundreds of his staunch supporters on Sunday who converged in large crowd outside his Nkandla home.
Throngs of his supporters, including members of the Umkhonto we Sizwe’s Military Veterans Association, Zulu regiments and general ANC members had camped outside his home from Tuesday when the Constitutional Court sentenced him to 15 months in prison.
The sentencing, which Zuma is challenging, sparked outraged among his supporters who have vowed to protect him.
They violated the adjusted lockdown level 4 regulations in the wake of a rampaging Covid-19 third wave, pledging to to protect him from going prison.
After a long wait on Sunday, Zuma flanked by his close allies and legal team led by advocate Dali Mpofu came out to address the jam-packed crowd just outside the gate to his Nkandla home.
Speaking in isiZulu, Zuma said he would not be thwarted by “other boys” as he went through trials and tribulations while he was young boy as well.
Zuma bashed the formation and operation of the commission, saying it was violating his hard-fought rights.
“This whole thing was never supposed to happen. My biggest sin was me pointing out that Zondo is biased [against] me, which is my legal right,” said Zuma. “It was one thing when I was saying he was biased but when he went to court to force me [to testify], that to me was a sign that he was abusing his power.”
Zuma then took a swipe at Madonsela for her recommendation that the state capture inquiry should be established. Her recommendation that the chief justice appoint the chairperson of the commission, he said, was against the law.
“That lady [Madonsela] took away powers of the president, who is the only person constitutionally empowered to set up a judicial inquiry. She said the commission chairperson must be appointed by the chief justice, which is against the law,” he said.
Zuma said he took exception to the Constitutional Court admitting the state capture inquiry case to enforce a summons on him.
Meanwhile the State Capture Commission says in its legal response to Zuma’s High Court application that, on the matter of his age and health, he should still be jailed because he can ask Correctional Services authorities to let him apply for early parole.
AfriForum says it will request to join former president Jacob Zuma’s rescission application that is set for a Constitutional Court hearing on July 12, 2021.
The organisation, which disagrees with the decision of the highest court in South Africa, to hear Zuma’s application, said, on Sunday, that it believes the former president has received special treatment from the apex court.
“AfriForum has ordered its legal team to start preparations to join the court application of former president Jacob Zuma – as a friend of the court (amicus curiae) in order to demonstrate that the special treatment Zuma is currently receiving by (sic) the court is a violation of the principle that everyone should be treated as equal before the law,” AfriForum said.
The organisation’s CEO Kallie Kriel said ordinary citizens would not be able to receive the same treatment that Zuma has been afforded by the court.
“While the Constitutional Court’s initial ruling against Zuma was widely applauded as a victory for the principle of equality before the law, the latest developments have caused serious damage to the credibility of the judiciary,” Kriel said.