[imagesource: Sandile Ndlovu]

Jacob Zuma, for now, has managed to avoid heading to jail.

Following his court filings on Friday, the Constitutional Court said on Saturday that it would hear Zuma’s application for rescission of the judgment it made last week.

Zuma is challenging the execution of the warrant of arrest at the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Tuesday, pending the outcome of the Constitutional Court hearing on July 12.

This from The Daily Maverick:

Zuma’s application to stay his arrest is being opposed by the Zondo Commission and the Helen Suzman Foundation. The other respondents in the matter, Police Minister Bheki Cele, National Police Commissioner Khehla Sitole and President Cyril Ramaphosa, have not opposed.

Putting aside the question of when (or if) Zuma will see the inside of a prison cell in the coming days, Police Minister Bheki Cele should have to answer for why it appears that COVID-19 regulations don’t apply in and around Nkandla.

Over the past few days, we have seen lockdown restrictions openly flaunted, with little to no pushback from law enforcement.

Exhibit A:

Just a bunch of people, flagrantly breaking the law, vibing out.

It’s a good thing nobody was donning activewear:

Brilliant strategic move by Zuma supporters currently staging a super-spreader event in Nkandla not to include joggers, dog-walkers or baristas in their gathering. First sight of those and #BhekiCele would have gone in with riot police and water cannons.

— Tom Eaton (@TomEatonSA) July 4, 2021

Journalists reporting from the scene were also subject to violence and intimidation.

Here’s one SABC News broadcast, interrupted by Zuma supporters:

Hebanna! reporters go through the most to get us the story. @SABCNews appreciation post #ZumaJudgement #amabutho #bekelebeke #ZumaConCourtRuling pic.twitter.com/Xk9ZHPffU9

— Lerato (@LeratoMabs) July 3, 2021

During Zuma’s media briefing yesterday, he insisted that he was not scared of going to jail for his beliefs:

“My age and health condition and any other mitigating circumstances were not considered when the imprisonment was decided. My family and my comrades insisted that these injustices need to be exposed. If it was up to me, I would once again go to jail for my beliefs, as early as today, whether I come out alive or not.”

…Zuma said that being jailed at his age, during the height of a pandemic, was equivalent to a death sentence. “The death sentence was declared unconstitutional in South Africa in 1995 as a result of my own sacrifices and those of millions of South Africans.”

The former president also said that “South Africa is fast sliding back to apartheid rule.”

So weak, so cowardly, and so on brand.

Never mind that the gathered supporters were placing themselves, and countless others, at risk.

Zuma dismisses an opportunity to condemn superspreader at Nkandla and clear violation of Covid regulations.

“I am not responsible,” he says. And then keeps telling journalists to take their masks off.

Please colleagues keep your masks on.

— Mandy Wiener (@MandyWiener) July 4, 2021

One might even think that Zuma wanted the journalists present to catch COVID-19.

Mzwanele Manyi, the spokesperson for the Jacob Zuma Foundation, said that Zuma was seen not wearing a mask because of his “medical condition”.

However, Manyi added that any illness he may have is a personal matter.

EWN spoke with Nkosentsha Shezi, from a group calling itself Radical Economic Transformation Champions:

“Whoever gets COVID must claim [blame] it on the Cyril Ramaphosa’s government because it is the government that has brought us here because it is a known fact that President Jacob Zuma, we’ve said it over 20 years that he will never walk alone.”

Sorry to ruin your chant, Liverpool fans.

I’ve seen people alluding to letting nature take its course, and citing Darwin quotes, but what happens when a law-abiding citizen falls ill, and there is no space in a hospital for treatment because it’s full of these fools?

Our resources are stretched far too thin to let this sort of behaviour, which jeopardises everyone’s chances of receiving adequate care, slip through the cracks.

A few points worth raising:

Comment: We are witnessing the homestead and the party take precedence over country, law and courts.
1. Police can’t stop numerous unlawful gatherings by party in KZN as Covid-19 gathers force there
2. The KZN premier, a constitutional being, is lobbing missiles at the judgment

— Ferial Haffajee (@ferialhaffajee) July 4, 2021

As always, one rule for the political elite, and another for the citizens.

Zuma: I can’t go to prison because it’s too risky for me in a pandemic.
Also Zuma: I’m not wearing a mask because of a “confidential medical condition.” And I’m not vaccinated, even though my age group has been eligible since May. And super-spreader crowds at my house are okay.

— Geoffrey York (@geoffreyyork) July 4, 2021

CapeTalk compiled some popular tweets:

The same President Ramaphosa who instructs ordinary citizens to obey the law for fear of arrest is silent when his own party flagrantly abuses it. Weak, weak, weak. 🇿🇦

— Simon Grindrod (@SimonPGrindrod) July 4, 2021

Collins Khosa was murdered by soldiers for innocently drinking a beer in his own backyard during a lockdown.

Yet, crowds gather in Nkandla for Zuma but SAPS acts powerless to disperse a mob during Level 4 and a third wave?@SAPoliceService different rules for different people?

— Suntosh Pillay (@suntoshpillay) July 4, 2021

Ramaphosa’s covid messages have been contradicted by three political events:

The EFF’s
Magashule’s
Nkandla’s

Against these, the state has appeared powerless. But ordinary citizens are swiftly dealt with when they flout covid regulations. Is it animal farm we have now?

— Khulani Qoma (@KhulaniQoma) July 4, 2021

Like in heists, poaching and other crime syndicates it is the foot soldiers that will get infected. The kingpins just pay for buses, stay at home or cruise to Nkandla in cars with masks, gloves and sanitizers.

— Mbhazima Shilowa (@Enghumbhini) July 4, 2021

Journalists for The Daily Maverick, waiting at a police checkpoint, witnessed some really worrying scenes:

“How big is your dick?” one supporter asked a SAPS member trying to question him at a roadblock. Others, obviously agitated, some drunk, called the police officers who had stopped them “crazy”, saying they did not care if they were shot…

Another man said the officers had been sent by Police Minister Cele to “kill black people”. The supporters said they wanted to speak to Cele and his “friend” Ramaphosa.

I don’t think any of us can predict what this week has in store, other than the man at the centre of it all playing the victim.

Buckle up.

[sources:dailymaverick&ewn&capetalk]