Former president Jacob Zuma should be sentenced to a two-year jail-term and no less because his conduct threatens South Africa’s entire constitutional order, the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture argued before the Constitutional Court on March 25.
“The Commission has asked for a declaration of contempt and a two-year sentence – it has not asked for a fine or a suspended sentence,” Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi argued in a contempt of court application heard by the Constitutional Court, in a sitting presided over by Judge Sisi Khampepe. Zuma did not file an affidavit to contest the application.
The former president has repeatedly ignored summons by the State Capture inquiry and in November last year left its proceedings without chairperson Judge Raymond Zondo’s permission. That precipitated a Constitutional Court application to compel him to appear. The Court granted the order which the former head of state ignored and which precipitated what Ngcukaitobi said was a contempt of court application, unprecedented in South Africa’s democratic history.
“His (Zuma’s) conduct must be seen for what it is – a cynical manoeuvre to avoid accountability. Zuma has made public utterances against this court that are false, malicious and unjustified. (He has made) unfounded comparisons between this court and the apartheid judiciary (and) attempted to discredit this court and its members,” argued Ngcukaitobi. He said that this was why the Commission argued that the president must go straight to jail and not pass ‘Go’.
Zuma’s cynical attitude to accountability should be met with a penalty of a two-year jail term as an appropriate expression of disapproval. The court had jurisdiction to sentence, the advocate said, and it had to step in and protect the judiciary from “an open and brazen attack (by the former president).”
Isn’t it just freedom of speech?
Judge Leona Theron asked, “Doesn’t any person have the freedom of speech to criticise this court? Aren’t we (being asked to) impose on Mr Zuma’s freedom of speech?” Ngcukaitobi replied, “Anyone is entitled to say the judges are wrong. We (advocates) say judges are wrong, and we say it all the time. (But) no one is entitled to say that judges have abandoned the green robes (which Constitutional Court judges wear), that judges have received money (a claim Zuma’s supporters have campaigned on). No one can say that the judgment of the Constitutional Court mimics the posture of the Commission, which is designed to make unfair criticism of Zuma. These are unfounded (statements made by Zuma).
“Zuma is not here to defend his freedom of speech. We cannot make ad hominem attacks on people who are doing their work honestly and diligently. (This is a) deliberate campaign to discredit the court,” he argued.
Several judges asked whether a two- year jail sentence was either the appropriate or the only remedy; and whether a fine or a suspended sentence (with an order to appear before the Commission) was not a better option?
“It worries me that you have abandoned hope of him (Zuma) appearing. The main application was to get him to appear. If we simply impose a custodial sentence, it will be counter-productive as there will be no point,” said Judge Zukisa Tshiqi.
“A punitive sentence is never counter-productive. A fine is out of the question. A suspended sentence was alluded to by us, but we have had no response whatsoever from Mr Zuma. It (will) simply play into the exploitative attitude he has adopted throughout,” said Ngcukaitobi, who added that “it simply presents another opportunity for Mr Zuma to pretend he is co-operating and then run away. An effective order is a custodial order.”
The hearing was lightning fast at just over an hour long. Judgment has been reserved. DM
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The judges looked a bit sceptical
Probably because they don’t want to impose a custodial sentence, only to find that it can’t be enforced against him (because the police won’t actually go and arrest him). That’ll just make things worse, and delegitimize the Courts even further.
Custodial is the only way to go. Everything else is just another jol for Zuma.
One might have expected that the learned judges would clearly understand that judgement needed to be swift and firm in order to avoid them undermining their own authority by creating a precedent for others to exploit.
It seems one’s expectations would be misguided.
My views exactly. The judges’ questioning was also rather lame.
Having watched the proceedings for the first time, and not having legal expertise, I was frankly far more impressed with Adv.Ngcukaitobi than the judges. Well we can but hope.
I’d want Ngcukaitobi in my corner any day. But I might need a few lessons in saying his name.
Frankly, I was a bit gobsmacked by the naivete of the benches questions/ objections. I would have expected a more erudite and robust debate of law. I’ve heard better-informed debate at parish council meetings. Disappointed by the advocate having to explain simple points of constitutional law.
Interesting hearing. In a legally simple matter in these dis-eased times, it will NEVER ever get more serious: Clear contempt of the highest court in the land (which we have seen is the last line of defence for the citizens of this country) by a defiant former Citizen No. 1. Send him down I say.
Amuleth’ Orange jimjams wami
Two years in jail – who are we kidding. Even if they had the guts to have him arrested he would plead chronic ill health and be back at Nkandla within a week !
what threatens the entire constitutional state is the unwillingness in the agencies charged to uphold law and order. Contempt of court is a crime punishable by time in Jail. Meanwhile “jail” has morphed into a Nkandla tea party. some of the most psychopathically dangerous have done far less damage
It appears there is confusion between one’s right to freedom of speech and adhering to a court order. Serious?! Even school children will understand that a ruling by the highest court in the land must be adhered to, even despite having a lot to say about it. My hope for S.A. is fading by the day.