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Last week was another reminder of how former president Jacob Zuma sold this country down the river.
The thus-far entirely toothless Zondo Commission saw witnesses like former minister of safety and security Sydney Mufamadi lay bare the extent of the rot at the State Security Agency.
Following on from that, current SSA Acting Director-General, Loyiso Jafta, delivered what would, in a normal society, be the sort of claims that lead to governments being dissolved.
All of this has been met with denial from Zuma and his acolytes, although the body blows kept on coming.
On Friday, the Constitutional Court ruled that Zuma has to appear and testify before the Zondo Commission, having done a runner back in November in the middle of proceedings, with the former president required to obey all summonses issued by the commission.
All of this leads us to Zuma’s statement, personally issued this morning.
Basically, he is telling both the Constitutional Court and the Zondo Commission to get stuffed, stating “in advance that the commission into allegations of state capture can expect no further co-operation from me in any of their processes going forward”.
EWN has the full statement, which is lengthy, and here are some standout passages:
This conjures up memories of how the apartheid government passed the General Laws Amendment Act 37 in 1963 which introduced a new clause of indefinite detention specifically intended to be used against then PAC leader, Robert Sobukwe. The parallels are too similar to ignore given that Sobukwe was specifically targeted for his ideological stance on liberation. I on the other hand am the target of propaganda, vilification and falsified claims against me for my stance on the transformation of this country and its economy.
Commission of Inquiry Into Allegations of State Capture should have been rightly named the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture against Jacob Zuma as it has been obviously established to investigate me specifically.
Yup, he went to straight to likening the Constitutional Court to the apartheid government.
Jacob, you wouldn’t be at the centre of the Commission of Inquiry Into Allegations of State Capture if you weren’t at the centre of State Capture, pal.
Naturally, Zuma says he is being singled out for unfair treatment, but he’s willing to keep fighting the good fight.
Much like Nelson Mandal’s iconic Rivona Trial speech, where he said the struggle for a democratic and free society is an ideal for which he was prepared to die, Zuma will also selflessly face whatever legal ramifications that come his way:
I do not fear being arrested, I do not fear being convicted nor do I fear being incarcerated. I joined the struggle against the racist apartheid government and the unjust oppression of black people by whites in the country at a very young age. As a result, I was sentenced in December 1963 to serve 10 yearson Robben Island at the age of 21…
In all the years of struggle, I had never imagined that there would come a time when a democratic government in South Africa built on Constitutional values would behave exactly like the apartheid government in creating legal processes designed to target specific individuals in society.
Zuma went on to say that seeing “a black liberated government behaving in this way against one of their own” caused him immense pain.
The statement also personally attacked former Public Protector, Professor Thuli Madonsela, and Deputy Chief Justice Zondo, with the victim card given a solid working over.
Thankfully, we are nearing the end of that statement, which is as follows:
In the circumstances, I am left with no other alternative but to be defiant against injustice as I did against the apartheid government.
I am again prepared to go to prison to defend the Constitutional rights that I personally fought for and to serve whatever sentence that this democratically elected government deems appropriate as part of the special and different laws for Zuma agenda.
Zuma was expected to appear before the commission on February 15.
Dress it up however you want, Mr Zuma, but on behalf of all rational South Africans, we would absolutely love to see you in prison.
Remember the celebrations when you finally resigned as our president?
You’re in Braam….On a Wednesday evening…On Valemtimes…
What did you expect? 😂😂😂 #ZumaResigns pic.twitter.com/Qzkwh1tfKT
— Bontle (@BontleModiselle) February 14, 2018
You can bet that seeing Zuma behind bars would lead to the good stuff coming out the back of the liquor cabinet, provided the alcohol sales ban hasn’t already left you high and dry.
[source:ewn]
