Yesterday was the day the Constitutional court gave its final verdict on former President Jacob Zuma’s contempt of court case. The Concourt charged Jacob Zuma with contempt after failing to appear and participate in the state capture inquiry.
According to EWN, Justice Sisi Khampepe said the court considered an unsuspended jail term of two years but that this matter was extraordinary.
“The Constitutional Court holds that there can be no doubt that Mr Zuma is in contempt of court. A judgment order was handed down in favour of the applicant [the Zondo commission]. Mr Zuma was served with the order, and it is impossible to conclude anything other than that he was unequivocally aware of what it exactly required of him. Never before has the authority of the Constitutional Court been threatened, never before has the judiciary been threatened.”
The ruling has had mixed reactions from South Africans but welcomed by most political parties.
The leader of the Democratic Alliance party John Steenhuisen called on the former president to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and to hand himself over.
The IFP has also released a statement in which it said the Concourt ruling was a victory for the rule of law and confirmed the fact that no one was above the law.
“This matter did not have to go this far, had the former President complied with the directive of the State Capture Commission. We hope that he will respect and honour this ruling, and comply with the order that he must submit himself to the Police within the next five days”.
President of Action SA Herman Mashaba tweeted: “This is indeed a victory for all South Africans that have become gatvol with those who have looted our country with impunity.”
