Following former president Jacob Zuma’s failure to hand himself over to law enforcement authorities on Sunday, police minister Bheki Cele says the police are prepared to arrest Zuma on Wednesday.
Cele has also announced that police have set up cameras to monitor Zuma’s movements pending his arrest for contempt of court. Police also upped the tally of detectives in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal after armed supporters gathered in support of Zuma on Sunday.
“We’re very proud that there was no bloodshed,” said Cele of events on Sunday, which included an impromptu afternoon rally at which Zuma addressed hundreds of supporters, some of whom were armed and not wearing masks in line with Covid-19 regulations.
Cele spoke during a vaccination drive in Soweto on Monday morning. During his public appearance, Cele confirmed he would comply with a court order to arrest Zuma. His remarks come the day after Zuma defied a second order by the Constitutional Court. “Our three days began at midnight,” said Cele.
Last Tuesday, then Acting Chief Justice Sisi Khampepe handed down a majority judgment from the apex court. All justices on the Constitutional Court bench found Zuma guilty of contempt of court for flouting the same court’s order that he testify at the state capture inquiry.
On Sunday evening, Zuma held a media conference from his Nkandla homestead. He and his lawyers gave details of his legal bid to frustrate and hamper his imprisonment, as ordered by the highest court in the country.
Zuma has approached the Constitutional Court in a bid to rescind its order in terms of the Uniform Rules of Court Act. The matter is set down for Monday July 12. Zuma has also approached the KwaZulu-Natal High Court to urgently interdict his imprisonment. That matter is on the urgent roll for Tuesday, July 6.
Zuma’s application to the high court and the Constitutional Court had created confusion about whether the police would comply with the order to arrest him, Cele said.
Business Day previously reported that according to the police’s threat analysis and legal opinion, Zuma “must” be arrested three days after Sunday in line with the court's order.
“When we were given the instruction [by the Constitutional Court], there were no other legal activities taking place. As the ministry, we have sought better clarification. We are waiting for the new activities that are happening in court or we continue as per instructions so we have time ... we don’t need to rush,” he said.
The court gave Zuma five days to comply with the order, failing which Cele and police commissioner Gen Khehla Sitole must arrest Zuma by Wednesday. He is then required by law to begin a 15-month sentence in prison.
Cele addressed prospective violence in Zuma’s stronghold of KwaZulu-Natal: “We are not going to be sucked in of the chaos of the people when the life [is] lost they have no responsibility to explain [...] we have Marikana and we don't want to go there again.”
On Sunday, the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJoints) increased its numbers in KwaZulu-Natal. “Responses to any and all situations must be informed by proper analysis,” said spokesperson Vish Naidoo.
He added that where the response of security forces “may potentially result in injury and, or loss of life” criminal cases would be opened against those who “created” such scenarios, including criminal action.
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