South African president Ramaphosa urged to sanction former leader Zuma

Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – The official opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) on Thursday called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to condemn former President Jacob Zuma’s latest attack on the integrity of the judiciary.

In a letter sent to the Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng on Wednesday, Zuma said he did not wish to validate the “sham” of the legal proceedings against him and that the Constitutional Court is determined to send him to prison.

Zuma sparked an outcry in November when he walked out of proceedings without permission from Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo who is leading a corruption inquiry. Zondo has asked the court to give Zuma a two-year jail term.

However, Zuma last month took aim at the Constitutional Court as well as the entire judiciary, warning that “a judicial dictatorship” is threatening the stability of the country.

The DA said Zuma is playing a dangerous game by undermining the highest court in the country and the failure of President Ramaphosa to condemn his actions is tantamount to an implied approval of his latest attack on the judiciary.

“As President of the country, Ramaphosa needs to step up and condemn these attacks on the judiciary. Even if the (ruling) ANC remains silent, he, as the leader of the country, should speak up when someone as prominent as a former president undermines the judiciary. Any failure to censure the former ANC president should be viewed as tacit approval of Zuma’s disgraceful actions,” said DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach.

-0- PANA CU/MA 15April2021