Johannesburg – With former president Jacob Zuma’s stance that he was not afraid of jail time simply melting away, the ANC top brass have been forced to come to his rescue.
Zuma was on Tuesday found guilty of contempt of court following his decision to defy summons ordering him to appear at the Zondo commission investigating allegations of state capture during his 10-year tenure as state president.
In a landmark ruling, the Constitutional Court said Zuma had disrespected the rule of law sending him to 15 months direct imprisonment.
But his throngs of supporters who have converged to the former statesman eNkandla homestead comprising ex- MK combatants, taxi associations and amabutho have threatened that blood will be shed should Zuma be arrested.
Under pressure and fearing that the tense situation might escalate to a full-scale civil war, the ANC top brass in the eleventh hour postponed an all-important NEC meeting which was scheduled to sit this weekend.
“In arriving at this decision, the national officials were mindful of the situation developing in KwaZulu-Natal and the need for ANC to give clear and principled leadership to ensure the maintenance of the rule of law and avoid any violence, injury or loss of life,” read the statement.
Zuma has until tomorrow to present himself over to the nearest police station for him to be processed and transferred to a correctional facility and begin serving his sentence.
If he fails to do so, a warrant of arrest will be issued hunting for his head. Zuma has also made a desperate bid making an urgent application, asking for the rescinding of the ConCourt decision.
He has also asked that his warrant of arrest not be executed pending his urgent application.
ANC KZN spokesperson, Nhlakanipho Ntombela said a team of officials has been dispatched to engage branches and leaders of pro-Zuma protests.
Also read: Historic week for SA after Constitutional Court sentenced Zuma to prison
Follow @SundayWorldZA on Twitter and @sundayworldza on Instagram, or like our Facebook Page, Sunday World, by clicking here for the latest breaking news in South Africa. To Subscribe to Sunday World, click here.
Sunday World
