This follows a meeting between Zuma and the ANC’s top brass on missed deadline to file answering papers in the Zondo Commission’s as contempt of Court application at the Constitutional Court, where the inquiry is calling for him to be handed a two-year jail term if he is found guilty.
Addressing reporters after a marathon meeting with uBaba in a virtual meeting, ANC’s SG Ace Magashule, said they had a very fruitful and thought-provoking engagement with Cde Zuma.
Magashule said the meeting with Zuma was a follow-up on the resolution by the ANC’s national executive committee which called on the top six to engage with Zuma over his issues with the Zondo commission.
“Comrade Zuma told the top six that he believes that he has been subjected to unfair persecution and prosecution over two decades and he emphasised that as a law-abiding citizen, he respects the constitution and that he too is entitled to the basic rights as enshrined in the constitution under the Bill of Rights,” he said.
Magashule said the party’s official had resolved to let Zuma consult his lawyers on what he wanted to do in relation to his current legal problems.
“The top six heard his explanation and agreed to give him space to continue consulting with his lawyers on these issues that he has actually raised, whether to appear before the state capture commission. We have left that matter, because he will further consult with his lawyers,” he said.
The media brief that took only an hour, did not address issues such as how long will Zuma be allowed to consult with his lawyers, again and; what was the reaction of the NEC?
Magashule said there was agreement that while upholding the constitution was important, individual rights were also important, which Zuma said he was claiming.
He highlighted that Zuma had indicated that his problem was not the commission itself but his belief that its chairperson, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, was biased against him.
Cope’s spokesperson Dennis Bloem said ANC was treating Zuma with gloves and should let him face the full might of the law, instead of protecting him, citing this is Zuma’s plot to delay the legal process.
Is uBaba playing mind games with our Constitution?
Image (ANC’s top 6 decided to let Zuma again, consult with his legal team).
