Durban – Former president Jacob Zuma has taken a swipe at the judiciary, saying that his imprisonment without trial showed that “something is wrong in our country”.
Zuma said this on Thursday while addressing his supporters virtually during a prayer service held for him at the People’s Park, outside Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban.
The service was hosted by the JG Zuma Foundation to welcome him following his imprisonment in July.
Zuma, who only spent two months of his 15-month jail term for defying a Constitutional Court order to give evidence at an inquiry, was granted medical parole in September.
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“The fact that you have come to support me with prayers means a lot to me. Today, we have state-governed by those who know what it is like to be oppressed and denied fundamental human rights. It is this state that has imprisoned me for contempt of court without trial. Something has gone terribly wrong in our country,” he said.
The former president said his imprisonment was a final move by those who fearerd him.
“Many attempts were made to remove me from any leadership position in the ANC and the democratic government since 1994. The judicial commission of inquiry was a final measure of those who fear what I represent could use. There is no legislation in terms of which anyone can direct the president to appoint a commission of inquiry.
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“The public protector went further to recommend that the head of such commission must be elected by the Chief Justice. The president was only required to endorse the appointment or the appointed judge as if he is performing his function in terms of section 84(f) of the constitution,” said Zuma.
Passing remarks with regards to his party, the former president said some people often mistook the behaviour of the incumbent leadership to be the behaviour of the ANC.
“The ANC is rooted amongst the people, with members in every branch. Others mistake misbehaving members for the ANC. I want to underline that you and I, we are the ANC. The ANC is us.”
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Compiled by Reginald Nhlapo
