Police have until midnight to effect the arrest of former president Jacob Zuma after he failed to hand himself in on Sunday.
Zuma is facing 15 months imprisonment after being sentenced by the apex court last week. He was found guilty of contempt for refusing a Constitutional Court order to return to the state capture commission of inquiry.
This week, Zuma approached the Pietermaritzburg High Court in a bid to stay his arrest. A decision is expected on Friday.
Zuma’s son, Edward, clapped back at president Cyril Ramaphosa since then, saying “He is definitely using courts to arrest President Zuma.”
Meanwhile, a small group of people dressed in uMkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) uniforms has blocked a police vehicle trying to make its way into Zuma’s Nkandla homestead earlier on Wednesday.
According to EWN, Zuma’s supporters said that they would stop any attempts of arrest, with one man stating: “We cannot allow our president to be arrested by a man who is also from KwaZulu-Natal” (referring to Police Minister Bheki Cele).
These are the events which have since taken place on Wednesday, as reported by IOL and News24 respectively:
WATCH: Edward Zuma & a handful supporters of former Pres Jacob Zuma singing struggle songs after blocking the road leading to the home in Nkandla. Just before sunset, Edward vowed that there will be bloodshed if the police try to arrest Zuma. @IOL #ZumaJudgement #ZumaArrest pic.twitter.com/m8kKYQGO5q
— Sihle Mavuso (@NewsBotZA) July 7, 2021
[WATCH] “President Zuma is still in South Africa” #EdwardZuma in high spirits just minutes away from his fathers arrest. @TeamNews24 @News24 pic.twitter.com/q9DBte7jcN
— Pule Letshwiti-Jones (@pule_jones) July 7, 2021
[NOW HAPPENING] #EdwardZuma has instructed what seems to be loyal #Zuma supporters to block the #Nkandla homestead entrance. This following news that police are making their way to the homestead. @News24 @TeamNews24 pic.twitter.com/Yb7nxDgIgl
— Pule Letshwiti-Jones (@pule_jones) July 7, 2021
[WATCH] a motorcade just entered the #Nkandla homestead. It’s the first of its kind since the start of today. It’s not clear whether it’s an statesmen or a government official. Meanwhile, it’s believed police are about 40-minutes away from the #JacobZuma homestead. pic.twitter.com/8Lqr6ns2bY
— Pule Letshwiti-Jones (@pule_jones) July 7, 2021
[WATCH] #CarlNiehaus talks to the media outside the homestead of #Zuma in #Nkandla. Niehaus unapologetically tells the #ANC on live broadcast that his not suspended and that he’ll remain the spokesperson, NEC and NWC member of the disbanded #MKMVA @News24 @TeamNews24 pic.twitter.com/8XtU9DsKCJ
— Pule Letshwiti-Jones (@pule_jones) July 7, 2021
WATCH: The #JacobZuma supporters down the road from Westville Prison now disperse as a few Metro Police vehicles turn up. @News24 @TeamNews24 pic.twitter.com/wtULdFgQtv
— Kaveel Singh (@kaveels) July 7, 2021
South Africans are waiting up to hear the outcome of Zuma’s arrest. Here’s what they’ve been saying:
Jacob Zuma is also glued on his TV watching if Jacob Zuma will be arrested tonight #ZumaArrest pic.twitter.com/s0Uy44Nknb
— ? StarBoy??? (@bunny_sehaole) July 7, 2021
I want to sleep but I don’t wanna miss this nkandla movie #ZumaArrest pic.twitter.com/LurshsmKcV
— Baki wa lepantsula. (@REALBUCKS1) July 7, 2021
Netflix can make a lot of money from #ZumaArrest if they too focused? pic.twitter.com/XFDEZy6DcI
— T E B Z A (@tebogo_visser) July 7, 2021
Is Betway doing something about #ZumaArrest we need to bet phela. pic.twitter.com/BMJC3g8Uu9
— Thapelo Khoza (@ThapeloKhoza11) July 7, 2021
#ZumaArrest
????Wer are u pic.twitter.com/zFFLkLT9yk— dembe maboho (@dembe_maboho) July 7, 2021
If Zuma presents himself after 9pm he will be breaking curfew rules, so will be his supporters if they are out after 9pm #ZumaArrest pic.twitter.com/P7mwzrsdxi
— Clive_from_Randburg (@clivesibbs) July 7, 2021
Journalist: the clock is ticking.
Edward Zuma: “The clock must untick itself!”Only in South Africa! #ZumaArrest
— Dianne Hawker (@diannehawker) July 7, 2021
#ZumaArrest ; this whole saga has showed me that, the government can easily fight crime if they wanted too… pic.twitter.com/i3HSBF8P5R
— PK? (@justNivad) July 7, 2021
You are waiting for Zuma arrest while there’s someone who’s still waiting for your response on whatsapp #ZumaArrest pic.twitter.com/DLdC1FYX8q
— 2021 AFRICA (@2021AFRICA) July 7, 2021
Can Cele and his team make it quick, we want to sleep phela. #ZumaArrest pic.twitter.com/AGh9wBdIHI
— Sakhile ?? (@sk_bliss) July 7, 2021
The first man in South Africa who made the country stay up until midnight after Black Friday and New Year’s Eve ???#ZumaArrest #ZumaJudgement pic.twitter.com/ZiCg9ZbNsf
— Gugz.? (@GuguSeritsane) July 7, 2021
Picture: Twitter