Zuma supporters vow to fight ConCourt judgment

Zuma supporters vow to fight ConCourt judgment

Former president Jacob Zuma's supporters have vowed to fight the Constitutional Court judgment that sent him to prison.

Ngizwe Mchunu with Jacob Zuma, Carl Niehaus, Tony Yengeni in Nkandla
Nokukhanya N Mntambo

On Friday, the apex court dismissed an application by Zuma to review this judgment.


In a majority ruling, Justice Sisi Khampepe said Zuma's application failed to convince the court that their previous conviction and sentencing were erroneous. 


But a minority judgment said the previous judgment was unconstitutional citing the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).


"The foundation is disappointed; the rights of President Zuma continue to be ignored because the court has taken it upon itself to priorities its own dignity over that of a human being. This judgment will even undermine investor confidence as it ignores a section of the Constitution that obliges government to take into consideration international law," said the Jacob Zuma Foundation’s spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi.


"This means people doing business with South Africa are not going to have confidence in our rule of law because courts are saying they are not obliged by treaties that have been signed.”


Axed ANC member and spokesperson for the #FreeJacobZumaCampaign, Carl Niehaus said they will fight the matter internationally. 


"We will proceed to approach the African Court of Justice and Human Rights (ACJHR), and also challenge the Constitutional Court majority judgment in terms of the United Nations’ International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), defending the right of every citizen throughout the world of appeal, and certainly not to be imprisoned without trial," he said 


He described the ConCourt judgment as arrogant. 


Zuma is yet to face another legal challenge with the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Helen Suzman Foundation recently launching urgent applications to review the decision by Correctional Services Commissioner, Arthur Fraser, to grant him medical parole.  


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