More reactions to Zuma’sentencing continue to pour in
Cartoon picture of Zuma arriving in prison
The ANC issued a statement following the judgment: “The African National Congress has noted the judgment of the Constitutional Court in the matter of Secretary of the State Capture Commission v Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma. The ANC is currently studying the judgement. Without doubt, this is a difficult period in the movement and we call upon our members to remain calm. The meeting of the national executive committee (NEC) scheduled to take place this weekend, will reflect on the implications and consequences of the judgment. We further reaffirm our commitment to upholding the rule of law and fulfilling the aspirations of our constitutional democracy.”
– Qaanitah Hunter
29m ago
In response to the ConCourt judgment, the ANC said its national executive committee is meeting this weekend and will reflect on the judgment. Spokesperson Pule Mabe said its national officials engage with the former president from time to time and will give a report to the party.
– Qaanitah Hunter
37m ago
FIRST TAKE | Jacob Zuma: The guillotine finally falls on a serial constitutional delinquent
The perpetual victim has met his match in Justice Sisi Khampepe and the Constitutional Court. Jacob Zuma is no longer above the law, writes Adriaan Basson.
1h ago
FULL JUDGMENT | Why Jacob Zuma is going to prison for 15 months
In an unprecedented judgment on Tuesday, the Constitutional Court found that former president Jacob Zuma should be imprisoned for 15 months for failing to appear in front of the State Capture Inquiry. It further ordered Zuma to pay the legal costs spent by the State Capture Inquiry in having him jailed for contempt – on a punitive scale.Read the full majority judgment below.
2h ago
Jacob Zuma found guilty of contempt of court, sentenced to 15 months in jail
The Constitutional Court on Tuesday found former president Jacob Zuma guilty of contempt of court and sentenced him to 15 months’ imprisonment.READ
2h ago
Zuma’s daughter says he will report to Nkandla police, opposition parties welcome sentence
Jacob Zuma’s daughter, Duduzile Zuma, has indicated that her father will comply with the 15-month jail term the Constitutional Court sentenced him to and hand himself over to the Nkandla police station.
2h ago
Former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, who ordered the establishment of the State Capture Inquiry, says she is “saddened” that Jacob Zuma will be imprisoned for contempt – but maintains that Zuma and his lawyers have only themselves to blame.
“I am not celebrating the outcome as I never celebrate anyone’s downfall,” Madonsela told News24.
“I welcome the Constitutional Court’s judgment as right and fair and just. However, I wish it had been avoided. The only people that had the responsibility and power to avoid this sad but apt rule of law outcome, are former president Zuma and his lawyers.
“I’m sad for president Zuma. But his conduct (on the advice of his lawyers) left the Constitutional Court with no options. If the Constitutional Court had not put its foot down, this would have been the end of the rule of law in our country.
“The rule of law holds that no one is above the law. Zuma’s lawyers should have known that and not represented him to break the law blatantly. It would have been better had he defied the court as a self-represented person”
– Karyn Maughan
3h ago
Ralph Mathekga | Zuma judgment: The ball’s in the ANC’s court. Will it do the right thing?
As a political party, the ANC must do the right thing and allow the rule of law to prevail. Failing to do this is a step in the direction of a constitutional crisis, writes political analyst Ralph Mathekga.Read article
3h ago
What are your views on the Constitutional Court ruling sending former president Jacob Zuma to jail for 15 months? What does it mean for our democracy – and for our future?
Email your thoughts (max 400 words) to editor@zimbabweobserver.co.za and we might publish your views.
Please include your name, surname, contact number and location.
Jacob Zuma remains, from his perspective, a victim that manifests in his corruption trial and failed attempts to get him to account at the Zondo Commission. He is a victim because of opposition to his supposed radical economic transformation strategy, an incoherent cocktail of policies best suited for populist rhetoric to mask corruption, writes Mpumelelo Mkhabela.
Zuma’s ardent supporter Carl Niehaus says: “It is definite that president Zuma has been politically targeted again. And this is the apex of outrage of politics targeting that we seeing right now.”
They insist that people must oppose the judgment and sentencing.
– Pule Letshwiti
SAFTU general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi tweeted in response: “I joined the struggle in response to worst kinds abuse of power, not just of my rights as a child but of generations of my parents. It was these conditions that drove me to struggle! That’s why no one can claim to have recruited me to any organization! I support the rule of law.”
– Qaanitah Hunter
Manyi in his first reaction told eNCA the minority judges quoted the Constitution and the circumstances and instead, in response, the majority judgment seems to be “riding on the issue of their opinion so to speak whereas the other judges are arguing a matter of law”.
He said: “The other judges, they seem to be so hurtful with president Zuma.”
Manyi said: “The minority judges are the lawful officers in this case who are not emotional, and the majority judges are quite emotional.”
Manyi said Zuma’s team would study the judgment and issue a statement in due course.
– Carien du Plessis
Zuma’s spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi told eNCA’s Annika Larsen he imagines that Zuma is “shocked” at the judgment.
“If you have judges that are saying this judgment is unconstitutional what do you expect should be the attitude of president Zuma,” he said.
– Carien du Plessis
Massive, massive judgment. Important for the rule of law, important for the country.
News24 will publish analyses throughout the course of the day: what does this mean for the courts, for governance, for the ANC and for the ANC’s RET faction?
– Pieter du Toit
4h ago
In five days, Jacob Zuma will be in jail. If he does not hand himself over, Minister Bheki Cele and national police commissioner Khehla Sitole have three days to take “all steps necessary” to ensure Zuma is in jail.
This is a bold step from the Constitutional Court that the days of disrespecting the courts and the Constitution are over. Zuma has disregarded an order of the apex court before? Will he dare do so again?
– Qaanitah Hunter
“JG Zuma guilty of the crime of contempt of court…JG Zuma sentenced to 15 months imprisonment…JG Zuma to submit himself at Nkandla or Johannesburg Central within 5 calendar days for the station commander to ensure that he is immediately committed to a correctional facility…If he does not, as required, the minister of police and the national commissioner of police must within three days take all steps necessary and permissible in law to ensure that JG Zuma is committed to a correctional centre…JG Zuma ordered to pay costs, including costs of two counsel…”
– Pieter du Toit
COMMENT: This is a historic day for South Africa. Jacob Zuma is the first democratic president to be imprisoned since the ANC came to power in 1994. The ANC, which Zuma led between 2007 and 2017, came to power by championing the rule of law, constitutionalism and human rights. The Constitutional Court, that imprisoned Zuma today, was a result of the ANC’s negotiations for democracy. This is proof of the supremacy of the Constitution and will have a chilling effect on generations of delinquent politicians that they are not above the law.
– Adriaan Basson
Justice Sisi Khampepe, who wrote the majority judgment, was thorough. She did not leave anything out and addressed all aspects of the matter. Justices Theron and Jaftha have dissented in a minority judgment but they agreed that Zuma is guilty of contempt. Justice Khampepe notes that the majority judgment is unappealable. This means Zuma has to go to jail for 15 months.
– Qaanitah Hunter.
Justices Theron and Jafta agree that Zuma is guilty of contempt of court, but do not believe he should summarily be sent to prison.
– Karyn Maughan
4h ago
Former president Jacob Zuma has repeatedly said he is not afraid of going to jail. Now the apex court has sentenced him to 15 months imprisonment. Justice Khampepe says Zuma’s conduct “smacks of malice”.
This is the court making a bold statement that the rule of law is supreme even for a former president.
– Qaanitah Hunter
4h agoAn unsuspended sentence of imprisonment for a period for 15 months has been handed down to Zuma.
4h ago
Wow: Zuma is “vexatious, conduct reprehensible, it macks of malice, arguments bereft of supporting facts…”
– Pieter du Toit.
4h ago
COMMENT: If anything, this strongly-worded judgment goes to show that slogans, letters, Twitter tirades and night-vigils organised by Carl Niehaus ain’t the real world. South Africa was established as a constitutional democracy and that is what we strive for. We are a country of statutes, and even Zuma and his acolytes will have to comply. Or be forced to comply.
– Pieter du Toit
4h ago
Justice Khampepe notes that Zuma is not an ordinary litigant. He is the former president. He wields a lot of political power. He can influence others to disregard courts. If his conduct is met with impunity, he will do significant damage to the rule of law.
– Qaanitah Hunter
4h ago
Khampepe says Zuma’s attacks on the judiciary and his opponents do not amount to tolerable criticism and says the majority finds itself compelled to take these “outlandish statements” into account when sentencing Zuma.
– Karyn Maughan
4h ago
“Scurrilous attacks on the judiciary cannot be answered with impunity,” Khamepe says, and slams Zuma’s “casual” attacks on the judiciary, which she says lacks in logic. The former president is certainly getting his comeuppance today. His unbounded and untethered attacks on the courts have been going on for far too long.
– Pieter du Toit
4h ago
Khampepe has just said an “unsuspended order of committal” is the only judgment available. It looks to be overall bar the shouting.
– Pieter du Toit
4h ago
Jacob Zuma is going to jail for contempt – the question now is: for how long?
– Karyn Maughan
4h ago
Justice Khampepe: “His attempts to evoke public sympathy through unfounded allegations fly in the face of reason and are an insult to the constitutional dispensation for which so many men and women fought for and lost their lives!”
– Qaanitah Hunter
4h ago
“No sound or legal basis where he can claim to have been treated unfairly or victimised and his unfounded allegations fly in the face of reason and is an insult to the constitutional dispensation which so many people have fought and died for,” Khampepe says.
– Pieter du Toit
4h ago
Khampepe says Zuma “squandered” his opportunity to provide evidence in mitigation of his sanction for contempt – by writing a “scandalous” letter to Mogoeng, where he continued his attacks on the Constitutional Court. She says there is no sound basis on which Zuma can claim to have been treated unfairly by the Court.
– Karyn Maughan
4h ago
“Zuma, unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, squandered an opportunity to respect the rule of law in this country,” Khampepe says about the 21-page letter the former president sent to the chief justice, calling it “scandalous”.
– Pieter du Toit
4h ago
This is a very, very strong judgment by the Constitutional Court, asserting its supremacy over the attacks of a former president on its legitimacy and the rule of law. Difficult to see how Zuma will not be imprisoned here.
– Adriaan Basson
4h ago
Khampepe saying the court needs to protect its integrity, that it will be useless to issue another order forcing Zuma to comply and that the majority judgment merely applies the law.
– Pieter du Toit
4h ago
Khampepe stresses that Zuma is very likely to defy a suspended sentence – a further act of defiance that will only plunge the judiciary further into crisis.
– Karyn Maughan
4h ago
“The Constitutional Court cannot be so naive…Mr Zuma has repeatedly reiterated that he will rather go to prison than work with the commission. It defies logic that another chance would have any effect than to prolong defiance and signal impunity…”
– Pieter du Toit
4h ago
JUST IN: Constitutional Court says it would be “futile” to give Jacob Zuma a suspended sentence.
– Karyn Maughan
4h ago
“The crisp question is: What should be the appropriate sanction?” Khampepe asks.
Should it be a “coercive sanction” which enjoins Zuma to subject himself to the court order, or imprisonment, which will not let Zuma off the hook?
– Pieter du Toit
5h ago
Khampepe says Zuma’s efforts to defend his contempt of court with public statements are irrelevant – as he failed to file an affidavit to the court.
– Karyn Maughan
5h ago
Justice Khampepe says Zuma’s public statements mean nothing. This is NB because Zuma did not oppose this application or make any submission. He rather used public statements to attack the Constitutional Court and in effect, the Constitution.
– Qaanitah Hunter
5h ago
Very strong judgment so far by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Sisi Khampepe, emphasising the extraordinary attacks of Zuma on the legitimacy of the Constitutional Court. “Never before has the authority and legitimacy of the Constitutional Court been subjected against these kinds of attacks”.
Former president Jacob Zuma has been found guilty of contempt of court by the Constitutional Court.
– Adriaan Basson
5h ago
Khampepe: There can be no doubt that Mr Zuma is in contempt of court.
– Karyn Maughan
5h ago
Strong words from Justice Khampepe!
She says the court was left with no choice but to respond when the ability to uphold the Constitution is “besieged”. She said the constitutional safeguards of the judiciary was “undermined so egregiously” and the court has to respond.
– Qaanitah Hunter
5h ago
Khampepe: Never before has the authority and the legitimacy of the Constitutional Court has come under the level of attack as it has from Mr Zuma.
– Karyn Maughan
5h ago
There is a dissenting ruling – an indication of why this ruling has taken so long. Justices Leona Theron and Chris Jafta – who wrote the original ruling compelling Zuma to testify – have dissented with the majority.
– Karyn Maughan
5h ago
Justice Sisi Khampepe: The Constitutional Court is satisfied that Helen Suzman met the requirements to be admitted as Amicus Curie. They are now admitted.
– Qaanitah Hunter
5h ago
Khampepe now setting out the applicants’ case, detailing arguments why the applicants want a punitive order against Zuma, even though there is “no meaningful precedent”.
Note that Zuma did not oppose the application.
– Pieter du Toit
5h ago
Khampepe now setting out the applicants’ case, detailing arguments why the applicants want a punitive order against Zuma, even though there is “no meaningful precedent”.
Note that Zuma did not oppose the application.
– Pieter du Toit
5h ago
Justice Sisi Khampepe: It was the applicant case that Mr Zuma is guilty of the crime of contempt of court. His non-compliance with a court order was undeniable because he failed to appear and give evidence before the commission.
Justice Sisi Khampepe: Mr Zuma did not oppose this application, nor did he file any submissions.
– Qaanitah Hunter
5h ago
Politics should never play a role Pieter and I suspect the court will try to emphasise that in its judgment. It is a pretty straightforward matter as Karyn has pointed out: is he guilty of contempt of court and what should be the sentence. Of course, the ramifications of a former president going to jail will be enormous, but not in the way Zuma wants it to be.
– Adriaan Basson
5h ago
Important to note: if Zuma receives a suspended sentence, he will be required to testify at the commission to avoid jail time – something he has repeatedly stated that he will not do. The inquiry says a fine is not a suitable sanction – as it has not guaranteed that the former president has the financial resources to pay it.
– Karyn Maughan
5h ago
Adriaan, Karyn, Qaanitah: This was a difficult one for the country’s highest court. We’ve never been in a position where a former head of state was on the brink of being sent to jail because of contempt. And it’s problematic because it tells us something about his commitment to the rule of law and constitutionality.
But also because of possible political repercussions. Of course, the court can’t be swayed by what could happen and what might happen. The reality is somewhat different though. Would politics have played a role?
– Pieter du Toit
5h ago
Yes Adriaan Basson, the Court needs to establish whether Zuma is guilty of contempt of its ruling, which seems to be pretty straightforward. The issue of sanction is what is likely to have delayed the court in delivering its decision on this case for three months. A fine, suspended sentence and direct imprisonment are all options here.
– Karyn Maughan
5h ago
Good morning everyone, a big day for our democracy indeed. Karyn, am I correct that the court will first have to convict (or acquit) Zuma of contempt of court for refusing to appear before the Zondo Commission, and then sentence him?
And in terms of sentencing, it could be a fine or imprisonment?
– Adriaan Basson
5h ago
Zuma did not participate in the inquiry’s initial Constitutional Court application to compel him to testify before it after he walked out of the commission in November last year. He also did not participate in the subsequent contempt case against him – or comply with the court’s directives that he file an affidavit detailing what sanction he believed he should face.
Instead, he wrote a letter to outgoing Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, in which he compared the Constitutional Court to the apartheid government and said he was willing to become a “prisoner of the Constitutional Court”.
– Karyn Maughan
5h ago
The Inquiry maintains that Zuma’s defiance of the court’s ruling is a direct attack on rule of law and has argued that he should receive a two-year jail term for it.
It has also taken issue with Zuma’s ongoing attacks on the judiciary, which he has accused of apartheid-era abuses and corruption – without providing any evidence to back up these claims.
– Karyn Maughan
5h ago
Within a matter of minutes, South Africa’s highest court will rule on whether former president Jacob Zuma is guilty of contempt – and, if so, whether he should be fined or jailed.
The decision comes after Zuma defied a Constitutional Court ruling that he must appear before the state capture Inquiry and answer non-incriminating questions about his nine years in office – a decision that the former president insists violates his constitutional rights.
– Karyn Maughan
5h ago
Good morning all! Big day at the Constitutional Court where judgment will be delivered whether former president Jacob Zuma was in contempt of court because he refused to testify at the Zondo Commission.
Watch out for live comment and analysis from our reporters, including specialist legal reporter Karyn Maughan and News24’s editor-in-chief, Adriaan Basson.
– Pieter du Toit
5h ago
Constitutional Court to rule on Jacob Zuma contempt case on Tuesday
The Constitutional Court has announced that it is ready to hand down judgment in the State Capture Inquiry’s contempt of court case against former president Jacob Zuma.
In a tweet from its official account, the apex court said judgment would be handed down at 10:00 on Tuesday
.READ
5h ago
Karyn Maughan | Will the ConCourt give Zuma one last get-out-of-jail-free card?
The three-month extension of the Zondo Commission means there is still an opportunity for former president Jacob Zuma to testify – but, Karyn Maughan writes, will the Constitutional Court give him the chance to avoid jail by doing so?
–Media24
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