The #FreeZuma Campaign expressed relief at former President Jacob Zuma’s release on medical parole, but maintained his imprisonment was unconstitutional and purely political.
An erstwhile statesman was sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court after refusing to testify at the State Capture Inquiry chaired by acting chief Justice, Raymond Zondo.
Following Zuma’s imprisonment, violence flared up, resulting in business looting, torching, and fatalities in KwaZulu-Natal and some parts of Gauteng.
Zuma was supposed to appear in Pietermaritzburg High Court on Thursday and Friday for a special plea trial related to the arms deal scandal.
He is facing 16 charges of corruption, racketeering, fraud, and money laundering, for allegedly accepting 783 illegal payments.
Due to his ill health, Zuma’s hearing has been postponed until September 20 and 21, according to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Zuma is currently undergoing treatment at a military hospital for an undisclosed illness.
NPA spokesperson, Mthunzi Mhaga, said this would enable a state-appointed medical team of specialists to consider the medical evidence.
The Jacob G. Zuma Foundation congratulates the Parole Board on its decision to allow Zuma to serve his remaining jail time outside the prison walls, saying the former statesman will remain in the hospital.
#Free Zuma campaign described Zuma’s imprisonment without trial as a violation of his legal rights, saying the judgment was both emotionally charged and vengeful.
According to the campaign, if the Constitutional Court stuck to its original decision, they would lose all credibility, because it is now evident that they made a clear political decision to imprison Zuma without a trial.
“If they overturn this ruling, they lose even more credibility, as Zuma is clearly the victim of malicious judicial incompetence. It’s a mess. They don’t deserve sympathy. “They must simmer in the poisonous witches’ brew prepared for the former President, “said the campaign.
“ConCourt judgment infringed upon Zuma’s rights, not only in terms of our Constitution, but also in terms of the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The ruling jeopardized President Zuma’s most basic human rights.”
In their indecent haste to serve their masters, the Campaign said the judges who authored the unanimous judgment imprisoning Zuma for 15 months, have forced themselves into a corner, adding that through their self-imposed quandary, they fundamentally weakened the Constitutional Court.
Instead of admitting their mistakes, the Campaign said the ConCourt judges mocked themselves by delaying the case through petty issues, adding that while huddling and avoiding their own responsibility, they contributed to a constitutional crisis in which they alone are to blame.
“These are unprincipled. Compromised, Constitutional Court judges must not believe they can fool us into letting them off the hook so easily. They must do their job, and we will push for a judgment,” said the campaign.
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