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The Jacob G Zuma Foundation has dismissed the Constitutional Court ruling that condemned the former president to a 15-month sentence as “judicially emotional, angry and not consistent with our law”.
In a court ruling delivered by acting Chief Justice Sisi Khampepe, Zuma was found guilty of contempt of court for failing to comply with the Zondo commission’s summons as well as an injunction by the Constitutional Court itself to give evidence in January and February.
On Tuesday, Zuma was ordered to hand himself over to the police within five calendar days. However, the foundation was not clear about whether he would comply or further defy the court.
READ: Analysis | Zuma’s nine lives meet fateful end at Constitutional Court
The statement, penned by the foundation and Zuma’s new spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi, also lamented what they argued was bias in how the apex court arrived at its landmark ruling.
“Firstly, the principle of equality before the law was clearly violated and the Zondo commission was given an advantage in a case that was adjudicated by deputy Chief Justice [Raymond] Zondo’s own colleagues whom he supervises.
“In addition, the majority judgment makes a spurious claim that our patron ‘attacked’ our Constitutional Court, which is utterly false. If true, it is unconstitutional and a serious conflict, for the same ‘vilified’ panel of judges, which is supposedly embroiled in a running bitter controversy with the alleged contemner to preside as judges in their own case.
“No one so cruelly slandered is likely to maintain that calm detachment for fair adjudication,” reads Manyi’s statement.
TO: ALL MEDIA
— JGZuma Foundation (Official) (@JGZ_Foundation) June 30, 2021
Subject: JG Zuma Foundation response to the Justice Khampepe judgment.
Sincere apologies for the delay. https://t.co/tghJMyO6Hp pic.twitter.com/5XU4J0TvMW
The foundation’s spokesperson also argues that the “characterisation of our patron” in the majority judgment “paints a picture of a very angry panel of judges” and thus the foundation “concurred with the minority of the other judges who said that the Constitutional Court majority acted contrary to the rule of law”.
Continuing in the very same vein of what led the Constitutional Court to deem him to have attacked the judicial system, Zuma’s foundation claimed that Tuesday’s judgment resulted in “the primacy of our Constitution” not being vindicated as the judgment showed some form of bias, be it actual or perceived.
“The judicial authority is an integral and indispensable cog of our constitutional architecture … judges are not above the law … at a bare minimum … they must act independently and without bias, with unremitting fidelity to the law and that did not happen in the Constitutional Court, as evidenced by the latest judgment,” reads the foundation’s statement.
The foundation insists that “Zuma has never believed that he is above the law” and that it is not a crime for him to have had a “dispute with an administrative agency such as the Zondo commission”.
While Zuma has remained elusive and noncommittal, his supporters, led by his ally-in-chief, the Umkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) spokesperson Carl Niehaus, have been attempting to mobilise support for him, urging citizens to “oppose” and “resist” his imminent imprisonment.
Another staunch supporter, Andile Lungisa has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to issue Zuma with a presidential pardon. Speaking to City Press on Wednesday, Lungisa described the Constitutional Court judgment as a “travesty of justice” and called on Ramaphosa to “immediately rectify it”.
When asked by City Press whether Zuma or his allies had made the plea to Ramaphosa, Lungisa said no such thing had been done. “We have made this call on public platforms. I am sure Ramaphosa has seen them and needs to urgently correct this disgraceful act by the Constitutional Court.”
While Zuma’s allies were sending out emails and taking to social media to show their support, there was little show of support at Nkandla of anyone “opposing” and “resisting” his arrest, as called for by Niehaus.
READ: Constitutional Court sentences Zuma to 15 months in prison for contempt of court
When City Press arrived at the sprawling compound, there was a handful of individuals dressed in the camouflage attire now synonymous with MKMVA members.
As the day progressed, there were about 15 to 20 other individuals who started trickling in, dressed in ANC regalia. They converged to the left of the Nkandla entrance where a tent had been pitched to accommodate MKMVA members who, for the past four months, have dedicated themselves to awaiting the Constitutional Court’s ruling and defending their leader.
There was a bit of drama when a “normal patrol” police vehicle arrived at Zuma’s gate, as supporters assumed the policemen were there to arrest their leader. The MKMVA members standing guard sprung to action and quickly blocked the van’s access, leading to the occupants’ departure without incident.
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