[ad_1]
Former South African President Jacob Zuma on Friday launched a final legal attempt to avoid jail after the country’s highest court sentenced him to prison for failing to appear before corruption investigators.
In a landmark ruling, the Constitutional Court on Tuesday sentenced Zuma to 15 months for contempt after snubbing an investigation into the theft of state property under his tenure.
If the 79-year-old does not surrender by Sunday, police will have three more days to arrest him and take him to jail to begin sentence.
As the deadline approached, Zuma pleaded Friday for the order to be “reviewed and rescinded.”
“It will not be in vain,” Zuma said in court documents, “to make a final attempt to call on the Constitutional Court to reconsider its decision and simply reassess whether it acted within the framework of the Constitution or, to wrong, beyond the powers conferred on the court by the Constitution.
He cited his “own unstable state of health … it is my physical life that the order of incarceration threatens.”
He said it was “no exaggeration to characterize (the decision) as cruel and degrading punishment”.
In this light, Zuma argued, he believed he was entitled to a tribunal that would consider his claim “with an impartial interest but a strong sense of judicial duty and independence.”
According to a copy of a committal warrant seen on Friday, Zuma would be taken to Westville Prison in southeast Kwa-Zulu Natal province.
Zuma supporters gathered outside their hero’s house in the countryside of Kwa-Zulu Natal. By Emmanuel Croset (AFP) Supporters gathered outside Zuma’s rural house in Nkandla, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) away, on Friday in solidarity.
About two dozen women who said they had traveled more than 300 km overnight from neighboring Eastern Cape province camped at the entrance to her home.
“We support Zuma and we want to know what will happen to him, that’s why we are here,” Cecilia Nongce, 43, wearing a traditional blue and red Nguni blanket to protect herself from the cold, told AFP. . .
“We love Nxamala,” she said in Zulu, referring to Zuma by his clan name, adding that they hoped he would come talk to them.
A group of other supporters arrived in two minibuses waving ANC flags and wearing white T-shirts with the inscription “wenzeni uZuma”, Zulu for “What did Zuma do?”
Two tents have been erected to house veteran members of the ANC’s armed struggle wing Umkhonto we Sizwe, who have firmly supported Zuma in recent years.
Faithful follow-up
Zuma’s nine years have been marred by scandals and corruption allegations, ending disastrously in 2018 when he was kicked out by the ruling ANC and replaced as president by Cyril Ramaphosa.
But he is also charismatic, rising from herd keeper to the presidency, and is one of the historical figures of the struggle against apartheid, spending 10 years in prison on the infamous Robben Island.
He retains a deeply loyal network of lawmakers, officials and grassroots supporters on the ANC’s left flank.
“We will not allow President Zuma to go to jail,” said Carl Niehaus, a close friend of Zuma’s and former ANC spokesman. “We will be uncompromising.”
Outside his house, a group of mostly young black men sang a song called “Asinalo Uvalo”, which translates to “We are not afraid or ashamed or what we do”.
One of the verses said: “We are not afraid of this Cyril who disgusts us, we are not afraid of this Zuma whom we love.”
Divisions
Apparently fearing a confrontation, the ANC said it had postponed a scheduled meeting of its top national executive committee this weekend.
“National officials were aware of the developing situation in Kwa-Zulu Natal and of the need for the ANC to provide clear and principled leadership to ensure the rule of law is maintained and to avoid violence,” injury or loss of life, ”the party said in a statement.
The ex-president’s foundation on Wednesday called the prison sentence “emotional”, “angry” and “not in accordance with our constitution”.
Zuma is also due in court in July on 16 counts of fraud, corruption and racketeering in connection with the 1999 purchase of fighter jets, patrol boats and military equipment from five arms companies. European countries for 30 billion rand, the equivalent of nearly 5 billion dollars.
Source link
