Constitutional Court - The African Mirror

Feb

2021

Zuma’s defiance is a grave moment for South Africa. But it’s not a constitutional crisis

THE attempt by former South African president Jacob Zuma to destabilise the country’s constitutional order, and defy the rule of law, does not constitute a constitutional crisis as some have claimed. RICHARD CALLAND, Associate Professor in Public Law, University of Cape Town It is, nonetheless, a grave moment for modern South Africa and its fledgling democracy. A former president who, as the Constitutional Court has pointed out, has a particular responsibility to respect the constitution even out of office, has chosen to defy an order from the highest court. This, while attacking the legitimacy of the judiciary and the Commission…

Feb

2021

By The African Mirror

Zuma’s vicious response to Zondo’s jail threat

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER HOURS after an unprecedented announcement that he may face a jail term, the former South African president came out with guns blazing, attacking Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, the judiciary and reiterating his decision not to appear before the commission probing state capture. The commission, chaired by Zondo, announced after Zuma failed to attend the hearing as summoned that it would approach the Constitutional Court and seek a conviction as well as a prison term. Zuma has however, made it clear that he was ready to face the consequences of his decision. “Now that it seems that…

Feb

2021

By The African Mirror

Zuma faces new criminal charges

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER THE judicial commission into state capture is going toe-to-toe with former president Jacob Zuma, who has declared that he will defy the summons as well as a ruling by the Constitutional Court to appear and testify. The commission, chaired by Deputy President Raymond Zondo, announced yesterday that it will lay criminal charges against Zuma, who on Monday declared that he does not fear being arrested. Zuma made it clear, in a lengthy statement, that he would defy the order by the Constitutional Court, the highest court in South Africa, which ruled that he must appear, as summoned,…

Feb

2021

By The African Mirror

Jacob Zuma’s ultimate defiance

NEWS

AFRICA MIRROR REPORTER FORMER South African president Jacob Zuma has waved the proverbial middle finger at the country’s highest courts, the government and the law enforcement authorities. In an unprecedented move, Zuma, who has been ordered by the Constitutional Court, SA’s apex court to attend and testify at the Zondo Commission into allegations of state capture, fraud and corruption, declared that he will defy the court order. However, Zuma, in a lengthy public statement that also extoled his history with the ANC and the struggle against apartheid, declared that he willing to face the consequences of his decision. “I do…

Feb

2021

By The African Mirror

Jacob Zuma’s defiance – in his own words

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

JACOB ZUMA I have received an overwhelming number of messages of support from members of the African National Congress and the public at large following the recent extraordinary and unprecedented decision of the Constitutional Court where it effectively decided that I as an individual citizen, could no longer expect to have my basic constitutional rights protected and upheld by the country’s Constitution. With this groundswell of messages, I felt moved to publicly express solidarity with the sentiments and concerns raised with me about a clearly politicized segment of the judiciary that now heralds an imminent constitutional crisis in this country.…

Jan

2021

By The African Mirror

Zuma forced to appear before commission

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER THE highest court in South Africa has ruled that former president Jacob Zuma should appear, give evidence and answer questions at the Zondo Commission into state capture, fraud and corruption. The Constitutional Court not only ordered that Zuma must obey all summonses issued by the Zondo Commission, chaired by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, but also slapped Zuma with the cost of the application. In a unanimous decision, the court said while Zuma does not have the right not to answer questions, he would be entitled to show to the commission why answering questions may incriminate him.…

Dec

2020

By The African Mirror

South Africa’s ex-leader Zuma ordered to reappear at graft inquiry

NEWS

SOUTH Africa's former President Jacob Zuma has been ordered to reappear at an inquiry into state corruption during his term after he abruptly left the proceedings last month, according to a summons issued by the head of the investigation. Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo is also asking the Constitutional Court, the highest legal authority in the land, to compel Zuma to attend and "account for his exercise of public power". In his second appearance at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture two weeks ago, Zuma had his application for the judge to recuse himself dismissed. Zuma then left proceedings…