Political analyst, Dr Ntsikelelo Breakfast has called on the African National Congress (ANC) to confirm its position on whether it supports the Constitution and the rule of law.
This after ANC Secretary General, Ace Magashule, said that the party has not discussed former president, Jacob Zuma’s refusal to appear before the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, saying that it is an external matter.
Magashule also said he believes that there is nothing wrong with Zuma’s decision to defy a Constitutional Court order – requiring him to appear before the Commission.
Zuma recently announced that he will not obey a summons to appear before the Commission from February 15 to 19.
The Secretary of the Commission has been instructed to lay a criminal complaint against Zuma for not appearing last month.
Breakfast says, “I think the ANC needs to come out and articulate its position of supporting constitutionalism and the rule of law because we live in a political order which was engineered by the ANC. If the ANC perpetually is silenced, it means that it condones the statements by the SG.”
Magashule also slammed calls by the Eastern Cape ANC for Zuma to be disciplined saying there is no reason to take action against the former president.
This comes as other political parties expressed mixed feelings about Zuma’s decision to defy the Constitutional Court order.
In the video below, Justice Christopher Jafta delivers the judgment against Zuma:
‘Respect SA Constitution’
The Constitution Hill Trust (CHT) has also appealed for Magashule, and Zuma to respect the South African Constitution.
CHT Chairperson and former ANC deputy Secretary-General Cheryl Carolus says, “Up until now, he has been accused of alleged wrongdoing – that is Mr Zuma and Mr Magashule. If he does not appear in front of the Zondo Commission then it is no longer allegedly breaking the law, he is breaking the law and then the law must take its course…”
“I want to appeal to him and Magashule to seriously rethink their stance on their public utterances. Go and appear in front of the Zondo Commission. Please respect our constitution and do not trample on the lives and the blood and the many years in prison – including your own Mr Zuma – don’t trample on it. Just go and have your day in court,” added Carolus.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) says the only problem with Zuma’s defiance of the Constitutional Court ruling, would be if his behaviour goes unpunished.
DA shadow minister of Justice Glynis Breytenbach says, “The fact that he refuses to give evidence before the Zondo Commission simply means that a charge of contempt of court should be laid and that has been done. It’s not the first time an accused has done this probably won’t be the last. The crisis lies therein if there are no consequences for such behaviour.”
We have a press statement from kwaDakwadunuse.#StateCaptureInquiry #ZondoCommission pic.twitter.com/I1NAZqopr8
— Khaya Sithole (@CoruscaKhaya) February 1, 2021
Advocate Paul Hoffman from Accountability Now weighs in on Zuma’s defiance of Constitutional Court order. Accountability Now is an organisation devoted to ensuring the rule of law is upheld and enforced.
Below is a statement from the Commission:
