The Jacob Zuma Foundation has accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of breaching the equality clause in the Constitution by overlooking Deputy Chief Justice, Mandisa Maya, for the position of Chief Justice.
Earlier this year, former President Zuma approached the Pretoria High Court in a bid to have Chief Justice, Raymond Zondo’s appointment reversed.
The President appointed Zondo as Chief Justice in April last year following interviews with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
The JSC had recommended the then Supreme Court of Appeal Judge President, Mandisa Maya, for the position.
However, the recommendation was not binding on the President, who later appointed Zondo as chief justice and Maya as Deputy Chief Justice.
Former President Jacob Zuma wants to challenge President Cyril Ramaphosa’s appointment of Raymond Zondo as Chief Justice as the Jacob Zuma Foundation Spokesperson, Mzwanele Manyi, explains.
“The next steps in the process will be the compulsory provision of the JSC and Mr Ramaphosa of the record of proceedings and deliberations pertaining to the JSC’s recommendations and the President’s decision. Mr Ramaphosa will be called upon to dispell the allegation or suspicion that Zondo was being unduly rewarded for absolving Ramaphosa for his role in the Bosasa and CR17 scandals amongst other things in the so called State Capture Commission report. He must also explain why he overlooked a woman candidate when she had, in any event, received the highest votes. Such conduct is indeed in breach of the equality clause of the constitution.”
Zuma wants the courts to review and set aside the appointment of Raymond Zondo as Chief Justice.
Zuma’s issue with Chief justice Raymond Zondo is not a new thing. During his appearance before the State Capture Commission of Inquiry, Zuma wanted Zondo to recuse himself from the proceedings, citing a conflict of interest.
Zuma was later found guilty of contempt for failing to appear before the commission and was handed a 15-month jail term.
But less than two months after his admission to prison, he was released on medical parole. In August this year, he was released on remission, despite the Constitutional Court dismissing Zuma’s application for leave to appeal a Supreme Court of Appeal ruling that he must return to prison to finish his 15-month sentence.
All the time, Zuma stuck to his story that he and Zondo had a relationship of some sort hence he mantained that Zondo was conflicted.
