The Jacob Zuma Foundation has accused the Constitutional Court of using bullying tactics in the way it deals with cases.
The Foundation made these comments after the court handed down judgment dismissing former President Jacob Zuma’s application to have the earlier decision to have his 15-month jail sentence rescinded.
The court says Zuma failed to meet the rescission requirements and says granting him the rescission would fly in the face of the principle of finality in litigation.
Jacob Zuma Foundation’s Mzwanele Manyi says it is unfortunate that the court is more concerned about its integrity than the rights of the accused:
Zuma’s contempt of court conviction and sentence stemmed from his defiance of the Constitutional Court order to continue to appear before the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture.
Representing the former President in his rescission case, Advocate Dali Mpofu had argued that his client is the only prisoner in the country who was jailed without trial.
But on behalf of the State Capture Commission, Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi said Zuma refused to state his case and chose to make disparaging remarks against the apex court.
Zuma has also been ordered to pay the costs of the secretary of the Commission, the Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF) and the Council for the advancement of the South African Constitution (Casac).
Zuma was granted medical parole after serving two months of his sentence.
Judgment: The Constitutional Court did not make a rescindable error. The judgment and order against former President Zuma stand, and the application for rescission is dismissed with costs. (JG Zuma v Secretary of the Judicial Commission and Others) pic.twitter.com/lQ0FxuGXgS
— Constitutional Court (@ConCourtSA) September 17, 2021
#JacobZuma Khampepe:This application is dismissed with costs. #sabcnews
— #TheLordOfTheMedia (@samkelemaseko) September 17, 2021
Below is the judgment on the rescission case:
