Johannesburg – Former President Jacob Zuma still believes that he has done nothing wrong and that his refusal to give testimony at the commission probing state capture was justified, labelling the commission as a slaughterhouse whose only mission was to see him suffer.
In a strongly-worded statement released by his foundation late last night at about 11.40 pm, the foundation fired a salvo of attacks at the judiciary on the manner it had conducted itself.
“The characterisation of our patron by the majority panel paints a picture of a very angry panel of judges. The principle of equality before the law was clearly violated. The Zondo commission was given an advantage in a case that was adjudicated by DCJ Zondo’s colleagues, whom he supervises,” said the JG Zuma Foundation in a statement.
On Tuesday, the Constitutional Court found Zuma guilty of contempt of court for his deliberate failure to appear at the state capture commission, sentencing him to 15 months of direct imprisonment.
Delivering the landmark verdict, presiding Judge Sisi Khampepe held no punches, reminding the former president of his previous public statements that he was not afraid of being jailed in defence of what he believes in.
“If the court did not show the seriousness of Zuma’s breach, then it would plunge the integrity of the courts into deeper waters,” said Khampepe.
Zuma was also ordered by the court to present himself voluntarily at the Johannesburg central police station or at his local police station in his ancestral village of eNkandla.
Zuma was given until Sunday to do so or risk being escorted by police from his home.
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