Former South African President Jacob Zuma compared the Constitutional Court judges to ‘the white minority rulers’ he once fought.
Zuma said this while he was addressing hundreds of supporters about appealing the 15-month prison sentence handed down by the Constitutional Court last week, for his defiance of a court order that he should testify before the Zondo commission.
A deadline for Zuma to turn himself in to authorities was set for midnight on Sunday. The court also agreed to hear an application for rescission of the sentence on 12 July.
“The fact that I was lambasted with a punitive jail sentence without trial should engender shock in all those who believe in freedom and the rule of law,” Zuma told journalists.
“South Africa is fast sliding back to apartheid rule.”
Al Jazeera’s Fahmida Miller said supporters cheered as the leader spoke, “especially as he remained defiant”.
“Supporters said this is an attack on the former president because of what he stood up for and that he is being vilified.”
Miller added that the crowds of people “come and go,” but they will likely continue to show support outside his residence.
“[Zuma] has thanked the supporters for coming out, saying that he draws strength from their presence and without them … he would have been arrested, and with them here he is defended”.
[Photo: Tebogo Letsie for City Press]