Concourt asked to order sheriff to deliver Zuma to state capture inquiry
FORMER president Jacob Zuma should be brought by the sheriff of the high court to testify before the commission of inquiry into state capture in addition to being jailed for contempt of court.
This is the view of the Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF), which has asked to be admitted as amicus curiae (friend of the court) in the commission’s Constitutional Court bid to have Zuma jailed for two years after being held in contempt of court for ignoring subpoenas issued by the inquiry – despite being ordered to do so by the apex court.
In its written submissions filed on Tuesday, the HSF suggested that an appropriate sanction for Zuma’s contempt may be an order for his committal for a minimum compulsory period.
The foundation also wants an order that would curtail any further period of imprisonment if he voluntarily complies with the requirement to testify before the commission, or it proposed an order that the sheriff of the high court be directed to bring Zuma to the commission to testify.
The HSF accused Zuma of seriously impeding the functioning of the commission of inquiry into state capture, and undermining its ability to fulfil its crucial truth-seeking mandate.
It has told the apex court that Zuma’s conduct was setting a dangerous precedent in a young democracy.
“There are no exceptions or exemptions permitted to former presidents, or any other categories or classes of persons in relation to the duty to comply with court orders,” the HSF said.
According to the foundation, an appropriate sanction for Zuma’s contempt of the Constitutional Court must serve dual and interlinking punitive and coercive purposes.
Zuma is not participating in the matter, which will be heard today.