South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma must hand himself over to police today, 7th July 2021, or face being arrested according to last week’s ruling by the Constitutional Court because he was found to be in contempt.
It is not clear however what will happen to him.
Jacob Zuma Foundation spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi told BBC Focus on Africa he doesn’t believe Mr. Zuma will be detained.
“As far as we are concerned no arrest should happen because the person to carry out the arrest is on record saying he’s waiting for the litigation to finish,” he said.
Mr Manyi said Police Minister Bheki Cele wrote to the court saying he would wait for the litigation that will guide him in executing the arrest.
The former president’s lawyers have gone to the high court to block the proceedings.
But Mr Cele also said he would respect the Constitutional Court’s ruling.
University of Cape Town’s Constitutional Law Professor Pierre De Vos told the BBC’s Newsday that if the Wednesday deadline is not observed it will be yet another act of contempt and the legitimacy of the legal system will be threatened.
“It will cast some doubt on the ability of the willingness of the government of the day to adhere to the law even against somebody who is powerful like Mr. Zuma the former president is,” he said.
Last week’s Constitutional Court ruling came after Mr. Zuma ignored court orders to give evidence at a corruption inquiry.
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SOURCE: BBCNEWS
