Photo: GCIS / Flickr
Photo: GCIS / Flickr
Well, this is about as comprehensive as it gets: The spokesperson for the Ministry of Police has told the media that her department has been left with ‘no other choice’ but to arrest Jacob Zuma at some point on Wednesday.
Police give strong hints they will arrest Jacob Zuma today
Following an initial period of confusion – largely due to mixed messaging from Bheki Cele himself – it looked as if Zuma would do what he always does, and slip away from the clutches of the South African judiciary. However, there has been a dramatic shift in tone from Cele, shortly after he learned that his own reputation is at stake.
A failure to carry out a judgment handed down by ConCourt would hold SAPS in contempt of court, and the buck would stop right at the police minister’s door. On Tuesday, Cele backtracked from his hesitant stance, and revealed that cops would act to arrest Jacob Zuma ‘by midnight on Wednesday’ if the situation remains as it does now.
Wednesday deadline remains in place
Zuma, who’s claimed he is not afraid to go to prison, is now fighting tooth and nail to avoid the slammer. He is arguing that he was given ‘no trial’ before his arrest, but this defence conveniently fails to mention how many times he skipped crucial court hearings and appointments with the State Capture Inquiry. Msholozi has squandered these opportunities.
Lirandzu Themba, a spokesperson on behalf of the department, made it crystal clear on Wednesday that this is very much ‘D-Day’ for uBaba. She stated that the 79-year-old ‘must be in custody’ by the end of today…
“We haven’t received any correspondence from the Constitutional Court, and a failure of them to get back to us will leave us with no choice but to execute the original order, which clearly states the former president must be in custody before the end of today [Wednesday 7 July]. We have until midnight to do so, and we are still waiting for a response.”
