No copter, but we support JZ – MKMVA

Former president Jacob Zuma should remain steadfast in his decision to shun the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture and should not be convinced otherwise.

This is according to the uMkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA), who are making their way to Nkandla today to express their support for the embattled Zuma.

Kebby Maphatsoe, who heads the MKMVA group and is an ardent Zuma supporter, said the group wanted to make it known to Zuma that he was justified in his decision not to comply with the inquiry.

“We want to sit down with him. We are not going to change his mind. We will support him. We feel very strongly that he has been ill-treated.”

Maphatsoe said he did not agree with the efforts to convince Zuma to abandon his decision to risk jail in shunning a summons to appear before the commission.

Last week, the commission slammed Zuma’s announcement that he would not obey a summons to appear before it.

Following a ruling by the Constitutional Court in favour of the commission, Zuma made it clear that he was willing to face jail rather than appear – a move the commission said proved he considered himself to be “above the law and the constitution”.

Zuma, in a six-page statement, contended his defiance was motivated by the Constitutional Court ruling that he did not have a blanket “right to silence” in response to the hundreds of questions the inquiry wished to put to him.

Maphatsoe said the group of party veterans and ex-combatants were not following in the footsteps of EFF leader Julius Malema, who had tea with Zuma last week.

He said the MKMVA decided in January to “visit the old man” so that they could “see how he is doing and how we can support him”.

Maphatsoe said due to financial constraints, they could not go sooner.

“We had to still fundraise to go to Nkandla... we can’t afford a helicopter (like Malema). We will drive there,” he said.

Malema visited Zuma on Friday, making a dramatic entrance in a helicopter with advocate Dali Mpofu and Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina in tow.

The EFF leader is said to have tried to convince Zuma to cooperate with the commission.

The meeting between the MKMVA top brass and Zuma is expected to take place at noon.

Maphatsoe said the ANC’s National Executive Committee, which is meeting over the weekend, should “not get involved in Zuma’s decision”.

“They must discuss how to get a (Covid-19) vaccine fast; just leave Zuma to sort out his things.”

NEC member Ronald Lamola said Zuma’s decision was “un-ANC” and “dangerous”. –