Jacob Zuma, the former president of South Africa is set to address the nation over the weekend on developments surrounding his pending arrest, his foundation has said. This comes after the country’s top court handed him a 15-month jail sentence on Tuesday.
Cape Town – South Africa’s former president Jacob Zuma is set to address the nation over the weekend, the Jacob Zuma foundation has said on Friday, June 2.
“To all media and the people of South Africa. President Zuma will definitely address the nation this weekend,” the foundation said in a statement.
This comes after the country’s top court handed him a 15-month jail sentence on Tuesday.
In an unprecedented ruling, the Constitutional Court convicted Zuma for “egregious” and “aggravated” contempt of court after he refused to appear before graft investigators.
To: ALL MEDIA and the People of South Africa.
President Zuma will definitely address the nation this weekend. pic.twitter.com/HAhi8DbCXM— JGZuma Foundation (Official) (@JGZ_Foundation) July 2, 2021
If Zuma fails to turn himself in by Sunday, police will be ordered to arrest him and take him to prison.
The foundation has previously described the judgment that handed down the 15-month jail sentence as “emotional”, “angry” and “not consistent with our constitution”.
“The Constitutional Court majority acted contrary to the rule of law,” the Jacob Zuma Foundation said in a statement, adding that lawyers would soon provide “legal advice on the options available”.
ALSO READ | Jacob Zuma jail sentence ‘unconstitutional’, says foundation
Zuma, 79, was accused of enabling the plunder of state coffers during his nine years in office, which ended in February 2018 when he was forced out by the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
Before he left office, he responded to mounting pressure by setting up an investigative commission, headed by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.
Meanwhile, the acting Chief Justice Sisi Khampepe has signed a warrant for committal for Zuma to be imprisoned at the Westville correctional centre in KwaZulu-Natal.
@glennkirschner2 The Warrant of Committal has just been signed for former president, Jacob Zuma. It’s finally happening and it’s not going to be pretty. pic.twitter.com/6yeTeRjs85
— Dr. Samantha O’Neill (@SamONeillSA) July 2, 2021
A News24 report said on Friday that Zuma was expected to file an urgent application for a recission of the Constitutional Court’s ruling.
“Zuma will apply to the Constitutional Court for a recission of its ruling that he be imprisoned for contempt. He will simultaneously ask the Pietermaritzburg High Court to stay his arrest, pending the determination of that recission application,” the report said.
Picture: Getty Images
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
