Cape Town – Supporters of South Africa’s former president, Jacob Zuma, have vowed to cause disruption on April 11 when he appears in the Pietermaritzburg High Court to stand trial on fraud and corruption charges.
According to Times Live, a small group gathered outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Wednesday, urging Zuma supporters to attend and disrupt his trial on April 11.
The group is part of the “Msholozi President of the People club”, which was formed to back Zuma during his trial.
“We want to call all supporters, the 11 million voters of uNxamalala, lifetime president of the people Zuma to come to court on the eleventh of April. We want to shut down Pietermaritzburg, we want to take back South Africa to its glory days. Now, the lifetime president uNxamalala Zuma fan club are calling on all that with this light of hope we are going to continue, we are going to make sure that the persecution stops,” said one of the Zuma supporter in a video shared on social media.
Members of the Msholozi President of the People Club outside Pmb high court. They are calling for the persecution of Zuma to stop and for his 11 million supporters to attend his trial in April. ?: Mfundo Mkhize pic.twitter.com/u9dXZ3Wx7i
— Yasantha Naidoo (@yasantha) February 16, 2022
The Zuma supporters, included Noluthando Mahlungu, the younger sister of slain ANC Youth League firebrand Solomon Mahlungu.
“Zuma ensured that my brother was taken care of and recognised us. These days people of the movement do not recognise us. He taught us politics. My wish is that the case is struck off the roll. We are tired. It is for this reason that there are deep divisions within the liberation movement,” the report quoted Mahlangu as saying.
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Zuma faces 16 counts of fraud, graft and racketeering related to the purchase of fighter jets, patrol boats and equipment from five European arms firms.
He is accused of taking bribes from French defence giant Thales, which has also been charged with corruption and money laundering.
Recently he lost a new bid to delay his corruption trial.
He sought to have lead prosecutor Billy Downer dropped from the case, accusing him of bias.
However, High Court judge Piet Koen rejected that request.
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Compiled by Sinothando Siyolo
Additional reporting by AFP
