By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Photo Credit: Alon Skuy.
Former President Jacob Zuma has taken part in a virtual meeting with the ANC top six officials after an in-person meeting at Luthuli House in Johannesburg failed to materialise.
The meeting was called to discuss Zuma’s defiance of the Constitutional Court order compelling him to appear before the State Capture Commission.
The Commission has since asked the apex court to charge Zuma for contempt of court.
In a statement one sentence long, the party said that its top six held constructive and positive discussions with the former leader and have agreed to give Zuma space to consult his lawyers on issues he had raised on whether he will appear before the Commission.
The outcomes of the meeting were communicated after earlier reports suggested Zuma snubbed the ANC top six leaders.
This meeting follows Zuma’s defiance of the Constitutional Court which had ordered him to return to the commission.
The ANC NEC has in February resolved that the officials engage Zuma on his decision to defy the Constitutional Court judgment that he should answer questions and co-operate with the commission.
Numerous guests have streamed to his Nkandla home, some in support, while others are believed to have attempted to convince him to abandon his stance
Meanwhile, Zuma has missed the deadline to file answering affidavits to the Constitutional Court in his contempt of court case. The former President was given until the end of Monday to respond to the application by the State Capture Commission
The application also cited the Police Commissioner Khehla Sitole and the Police Minister Bheki Cele as respondents in the case. The application will be heard by the Constitutional Court on the 25th of this month.
Zuma has vowed not to appear before the Commission if Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo does not recuse himself. He said he believes that there is a level of bias against him and a lack of impartiality.
Watch: ANC briefs media on top 6 meeting with Zuma.
Video Courtesy of SABC.