By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former president Jacob Zuma and Schabir Shaik, both medical parolees, were among the dancing VIP guests at a Durban restaurant opening on Friday.
Zuma was clearly unfazed by the Supreme Court of Appeal’s decision to set aside his medical parole by the Pretoria High Court.
He smiled and posed for photos with Shaik, his former financial advisor, who was released on medical parole in 2009 after serving just more than two years of a 15-year sentence.
He was convicted of two counts of corruption and one of fraud relating to his facilitation of a bribe, allegedly by French arms company Thint, to Zuma.
The opening was exclusive to VIPs who were treated to the “fun” of having a front row seat as the former president showed off his signature moves, having a good time.
Zuma and the Department of Correctional Services had appealed the high court’s ruling in December last year, which set aside the decision by former Correctional Services national commissioner, Arthur Fraser, to grant him medical parole.
The former president was handed a 15-month jail sentence by the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) for contempt after he refused to testify at the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture.
Zuma restaurant owner Chef David Manal welcomed the former president. The restaurant is contemporary Mediterranean-Asian cuisine, with dishes such as sushi, robata style, seafood and grills. It’s inspired by Zuma, Dubai an Izakaya inspired Japanese restaurant.
“Thank you everyone for attending last night[‘s] event, It was an honour having our honourable former president [Zuma Restaurant] opening. We are going to educate and create jobs, dishes, lifestyle and culture, “said Manal on Instagram.
The VIP guests raved about the food, receiving top marks and a detailed review.
Manal, who calls himself the “Kitchen Gangster”, said the former president had no involvement in his restaurant and he had invited him, his wives and children as they have been “regular, reputable customers” of his.
“It was an honour to have somebody like that to do the opening with me, rather than a celebrity,” he added, acknowledging he wanted to “bring people’s attention” to his establishment.
Meanwhile the DA says “It is clear that Zuma and Shaik were never legitimately ill enough to warrant being granted medical parole. By Zuma and Shaik appearing in public as supposed VIPs, they are demonstrating the contempt with which they hold the ordinary public.
“It is clear that Zuma needs to return to prison without delay, and a review of Shaik’s parole should also be considered.”
The era of impunity for Zuma and his cronies is over. The DA will ensure that Zuma returns to prison and serves out the remainder of his sentence, said the official opposition in a statement.