Former President Jacob Zuma is said to ‘address the nation’ this Sunday, July 4. This follows news of his 15-month jail sentence which has taken South Africa by storm.
Read also: Jacob Zuma sentenced to 15 months imprisonment
According to the Jacob Zuma Foundation, Zuma will make the address in Durban. This follows his “recession application to seek justice not sympathy” on Friday, and precedes a meeting at the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday, where an urgent application to interdict Police Minister Bheki Cele from effecting his arrest will be heard.
[UPDATE]
Friday:Rescission application in the CC to seek justice not sympathy.
Sunday Afternoon (time tba):Prez Zuma will adress the Nation in Dbn.
Tuesday:The PMB HC to hear an urgent application to interdict Min of Police from arresting Pres Zuma pending his CC application. pic.twitter.com/ppxgpIkzwm
— JGZuma Foundation (Official) (@JGZ_Foundation) July 2, 2021
According to the Constitutional Court, Zuma has until Sunday to hand himself over to the police.
Zuma has pleaded to the Constitutional Court to reconsider its ruling of finding him guilty for contempt of court.
Read also: Zuma pleads for ConCourt’s decision to be reconsidered
Zuma stated in court papers as reported by News24:
“I am advised that before I walk through the prison gates to serve my sentence as the first direct prisoner of the Constitutional Court under our constitutional democracy, it will not be futile to make one last attempt to invite the Constitutional Court to relook [at] its decision and to merely reassess whether it has acted within the Constitution or, erroneously, beyond the powers vested in the court by the Constitution.”
He further mentioned that because of his “unstable state of health… [and his] physical life that the incarceration order threatens” he is “entitled” to have the Constitutional Court re-examine its ruling.
“It is [the] right to life itself which may be stake,” Zuma says. “It is therefore no exaggeration to label mine and as cruel and degrading punishment”.
Meanwhile, Edward Zuma, the son of former president Jacob Zuma, has stated that police would have to kill him before arresting his father.
Read also: “I will lay down my life for President Zuma,“ says Zuma’s son Edward
Zuma supporter, Carl Neihaus, has warned against unrest in the country should Zuma be arrested.
Read also:
Singing and gunshots ring as Zuma supporters make their way to Nkandla
Picture: Twitter