AfriForum has ordered its legal team to start preparations to join the rescission application by former president Jacob Zuma against his 15-month sentence for contempt of court.
The lobby group wants to join as a friend of the court.
The Constitutional Court last week found Zuma in contempt of court for ignoring the court’s directive to continue testifying at the State Capture Commission. On Saturday, it agreed to hear Zuma’s application, on the 12th of July, for a rescission of his sentence.
This means that Zuma is not required to hand himself over tonight to start serving his 15-month jail term.
AfriForum CEO, Kallie Kriel, argues that ordinary citizens would not receive the same treatment as Zuma before the courts.
“Afriforum decided to get involved in Mr Zuma’s court case because the special treatment he is getting at the moment infringes on the principle of equality before the law. We as ordinary people would not been able to get the same treatment as Mr Zuma is getting at the moment, and therefore is time we as normal citizens we demand equality before the law,” Kriel says.
He says the initial constitutional judgment, ordering Zuma to hand himself over to authorities in five days, was seen as a victory for equality before the law.
The organisation says Zuma’s application to have his guilt verdict set aside does not comply with rule 42 of the Uniform Court rules since “since his absence during his hearing was of his own doing.”
The organisation has described the Constitutional Court’s decision to hear Zuma’s appeal as strange.
Opposing parties in the case have until Tuesday to file their papers.
Earlier, Zuma said he is ready to state his case before the court.
#JacobZuma:We are going to the Constitutional Court to talk the truth and reverse their decision.we are waiting to go to court to say they made a mistake. #sabcnews
— #TheLordOfTheMedia (@samkelemaseko) July 4, 2021
Former President addresses supporters and leaders in Nkandla:
