Supporters of former president Jacob Zuma have descended on the ANC provincial offices in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. They say they want the ANC in the province to support calls for Zuma’s release.
Zuma is serving 15 months in prison for contempt of court. He had ignored the Constitutional Court order that he continue appearing before the State Capture Commission.
On Thursday, the Correctional Services granted the former president compassionate leave to be able to attend his brother’s funeral, Michael, which is under way.
Now his supporters believe he shouldn’t return to custody.
Their march is believed to have been organised online after #FreeJacobZuma posters were circulated on social media.
The posters also feature a motorcade that claimed to be heading to the ANC’s provincial offices in Durban – calling for Zuma’s release from jail.
The governing party in KwaZulu-Natal has distanced itself from the event, with ANC provincial spokesperson, Nhlakanipho Ntombela, saying they do not know who organised the event.
A memorandum is expected to be handed over.
ANC members demand immediate release of Zuma:
‘Law must apply’
The news come as the country is reeling from recent violent unrest, which followed Zuma’s incarceration.
It’s left more than 200 people dead and billions of rand worth of damage after KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng residents went on the rampage, looting and destroying infrastructure.
More than a thousand people have been arrested for the crime.
This amid calls for law enforcement authorities to bring the perpetrators of the unrest to book.
Community activist Ishwar Ramlutchman says the law must apply.
He also condemns the loss of lives in Phoenix where more than 20 people were killed.
“We were very devastated about the looting and we condemn such acts. The very root cause of all this racial tension started with the looting, now when we go back and look at the lives that have been lost in Phoenix. We condemn all those that have murdered civil society. Gone are the days that we live in a society where we take things in our own hands and there the law must apply. We request the authorities, they must work hard and bring the perpetrators to book,” says Ramlutchman who was adopted as a prince of the Zulu nation by the late King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the unrest as an attempt to destabilise the democratic order. – Report by Nonhlakanipho Magwaza
