[imagesource: Leila Dougan]

Today looks to be another one of those ‘will he or won’t he’ days in the most recent Jacob Zuma saga.

Yesterday’s action at the Pietermaritzburg High Court ended with judgment being reserved until Friday, which means the order for Zuma’s arrest remains in place.

The minister of police, Bheki Cele, and the national commissioner of police, Khehla John Sithole, have been instructed to ensure that Zuma is arrested by midnight today.

Failure to do so may put Cele in contempt of court, and speaking last night, he said he was “not prepared to be charged for contempt of court.”

Until we actually see Zuma sitting in a cell, much like many South Africans, I remain sceptical.

During proceedings at Pietermaritzburg High Court yesterday, advocate Dali Mpofu argued that Zuma is a penniless old man with health issues who had listened to bad legal advice in the past.

In court papers, Zuma also cited his “health condition”, and said that sentencing him to imprisonment during the COVID-19 pandemic would be a potential death sentence.

Every trick in the book is being used, and it’s worth noting that the former president didn’t seem too worried about COVID-19 when addressing those gathered outside Nkandla.

He talks a macho game with a microphone in hand, whilst painting a picture of a frail old man to bolster his legal defence.

In a cartoon published yesterday on The Daily Maverick, titled ‘Martyr’, Zapiro took aim at his old foe:

It remains to be seen whether Zapiro, and his famous Lady Justice, will have the last laugh.

State Attorney Johan van Schalkwyk, speaking during yesterday’s legal proceedings, made it clear that  Zuma’s arrest should be carried out today.

This via News24:

“The police minister has now egg on his face. Nobody knows if they are coming or going, they don’t come with a firm stance, saying they are going to uphold the order and the rule of law. They should do it because that is what the order tells them to do. Nothing stops them.”

Maybe today is the day.

Maybe not, if the ‘Hands of Zuma’ brigade get their way.

The champagne remains on ice.

[sources:dailymaverick&news24]