Riyaz Patel
The High Court in Pietermaritzburg has issued an arrest warrant for Jacob Zuma which will become effective should the former president fail to appear at his next hearing set down for 6 May.
This means Zuma will be arrested should he not appear on the that date.
Zuma was expected to be in court Tuesday where his corruption trial relating to the multi billion rand arms deal resumed. However, the State told the court they were informed last that Zuma is unwell and would not be in court.
Zuma’s defence added the former president is currently being treated abroad, reportedly receiving medical attention in Cuba.
Advocate Daniel Mantsha, appearing for Zuma, submitted a medical certificate to back their claims, but Judge Dhaya Pillay questioned certain aspects, particularly an issue around a supposedly ‘altered’ date on the note.
Judge Pillay said there was also no medical number attached to show if the doctor was registered and certified, acceding to the warrant of arrest request by State prosecutor Billy Downer.
Mantsha said the judge “had no basis to doubt” the letter, adding that an ‘altered’ date in the sick note could be attributed to the fact that it is early in the year and “dates can get mixed.”
He said Zuma’s health was one of “national security,” and that Zuma sought treatment abroad on the advice of his military doctors.
“It is absurd for the State to doubt admissibility of the medical note stamped by our own military official,” Mantsha said.
Downer, though, was undeterred: “The state does not consent to its submission. It has no evidential weight it proves nothing.”
Downer has repeatedly accused the former president of utilising “Stalingrad” tactics to avoid facing trial.
“He is being persecuted and victimised. It is not about the administration of justice or securing him to come to court. This is victimisation, this is persecution,” Zuma’s lawyer said in reaction to the warrant being granted.
The reaction on Twitter was swift and varied. “This will results in huge war, I wanna see who will have the nerve to execute this,” said one netizen.
“The Warrant of arrest is really unnecessary and further proves the State has already decided that Zuma is guilty,” said another.
Others though supported Judge Pillay’s decision. “Jacob Zuma’s medical note was altered, not dated, not signed and bears no medical stamp of the practitioner. If it was an ordinary citizen, they would’ve been arrested by now. This is a crook we’re talking about. He’s playing all the tricks in the book and delaying tactics.”
Meanwhile, only a handful of Zuma supporters showed up opposite the Pietermaritzburg High Court Tuesday, a far cry compared to previous hearings when the former president enjoyed a huge show of support during his initial court appearances.
Attempts by Zuma and his co-accused, French arms manufacturer Thales, to have the case permanently stayed were dismissed by the same court last year, as was an attempt to appeal the decision.
The case revolves around the multi-billion rand arms deal in the 90s. Zuma, as the first defendant, faces racketeering, corruption, money laundering and fraud charges for allegedly receiving bribe money from Thales via his former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik.
Shaik was found guilty of two counts of corruption and one of fraud in 2005 and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
He was released on medical parole in 2009 after serving just over two years of his sentence.
