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- When the Constitutional Court heard a contempt of court lawsuit against former President Jacob Zuma, lobbyists gathered outside the court.
- The commission wants Zuma to be jailed for defying a subpoena for his appearance before the Zondo commission.
- MKMVA spokesman Carl Niehaus says jail time for the former president is unacceptable.
On Thursday morning, groups of people, some who supported former President Jacob Zuma and others who were against him, prepared for the rainy weather in Johannesburg and gathered in front of the Constitutional Court.
And while they were there, the superior court heard an urgent request for Zuma to be found in contempt of court for failing to appear and testify before the state’s capture investigation.
There was a strong police presence and the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD). There was also a police nyala at the scene.
Among the groups were people wearing ANC insignia, as well as members of Action SA and Move One Million.
News24 previously reported that the investigation, chaired by Supreme Court Vice President Raymond Zondo, said Zuma “sought to exploit his political status as a former president” in defiance of a Constitutional Court order that he should appear before him.
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He added that the former president should be jailed for contempt.
Among those present outside of court was Carl Niehaus, spokesman for the UMkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA), who maintained that the action against Zuma was political.
Zark Lebatlang of ActionSA in the city of Johannesburg said they were out of court to send a strong message to South Africans that one of the party’s core values was the rule of law.
“We believe that all citizens should adhere to the supreme laws of the country. We are looking closely at this particular result to say whatever results are delivered today, we are in favor of the rule.” [of law] and that everyone must be held accountable if [or not] you are a former president of a state like … Zuma, “Lebatlang said.
READ | The Zondo commission wants Zuma to be jailed for failing to appear
He added that the party rejected Zuma’s call to challenge Zondo as president of the investigation.
Lebatlang said: “In fact … Zuma must be stripped of his powers. If he decides not to appear before the Zondo commission and this court gives a result against him, the current president, [Cyril] Ramaphosa, must strip him and show South Africans that the rule of law must prevail in the country. ”
Zuma’s supporters accused him that if he was found in contempt, it would cause instability in the country. But Lebatlang said that was not genuine. He called on Zuma supporters to stop being “fake” and using the political spin for their agendas.
Niehaus said they were in court as members and ordinary members of the ANC in support of Zuma.
He said they believed Zuma’s constitutional rights were being undermined and that he was not being given the opportunity to deal with Zondo’s “bias.”
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“We find that this urgent request from Mr. Judge Zondo and the commission is yet another indication of the bias of Mr. Judge Zondo and the commission he presides over.”
He said that Zuma was being attacked and that the hearing was not a matter of law but a political objective.
Niehaus said the outcome of the process would be positive, adding that if the process went against Zuma, it would provoke protests.
He said that a jail sentence was unacceptable and that such a penalty would lead to further divisions in the ruling party.
“We really hope the cooler heads will prevail, [and that] that situation will not emerge eventually because that situation will inevitably lead to social unrest and instability, “he said.
Lehlaga Sebake, who was also at the court rally, said he was there as a common citizen to support Zuma.
He said he believed Zuma’s rights were being violated, based on his own analysis.
Sebake said the country was in political crisis and that he believed Zuma was a target because of his “political ideologies.”
“The man has never said he doesn’t want to appear on the Zondo commission. He said he wants Supreme Court Vice President Raymond [Zondo] recuse. He requested a platform that he believes will not be biased. [against] he.
“Why don’t we ask ourselves the question: ‘Why isn’t Zondo recusing himself?'”
