An unrivaled verdict in South Africa: former President Jacob Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt for justice. The long-awaited verdict from the Constitutional Court fell on Tuesday, June 29, 2021. Prosecuted in several cases of embezzlement and money laundering, this time Jacob Zuma was on trial for his refusal to participate in an anti-corruption commission.
It is by a majority that the highest court in the country handed down its verdict. “There is absolutely no doubt,” the judge told a constitutional court before the verdict was issued: “Mr. Zuma is guilty of contempt for justice.” “Never before,” she said, “has the authority and legitimacy of this court been subjected to so many attacks by Zuma. Justice has never been so threatened. We have no choice but to find him guilty. ”
The former president, who is being sued in several corruption cases, including a bribery case from the French group Thalèstherefore receives 15 months’ imprisonment. A judgment which does not directly concern these cases because they are still awaiting trial but for refusing to obey justice and appear before a Commission. A commission investigating corruption at the top of the state and calling him to hear it.
Five days to give up
On several occasions, Jacob Zuma had stated on this subject that he preferred to go to prison rather than participate in this commission. The ex-president now has five days to surrender to the police. But it is difficult to say whether he will cooperate.
Jacob Zuma is based in his home in Nkandla, Kwazulu Natal. He still has many followers within the ANC, the ruling party, which will surely mobilize until Sunday.
The irony of this belief is that the Commission of Inquiry which brought legal action against the former president had been set up by Jacob Zuma himself. The former president was forced at the end of his term to gesture to appease the growing discontent of the population in the face of several scandals involving members of his government.
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