FORMER president Jacob Zuma has implored his supporters to go out in numbers to vote for uMkhonto Wesizwe Party (MK) on 29 May.
Zuma spoke outside the Joburg High Court on Thursday, 11 April, after he appeared for his private prosecution matter against President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The 82-year-old Zuma said if they vote MK into power, he will change the current laws because they discriminate against certain people, especially black people.
“As you know, we are here because I instituted a private prosecution against the president. Since this case started, I come to court, but the president has never set his foot in court. That shows that this country is not the one we fought for because other people are forced by the judges to attend their cases, but the person who is supposed to be respecting the law and leading by example does not come to court. Ramaphosa is not respecting the law,” said Zuma.
He said Ramaphosa was the only accused he knew of that never attended his court cases.
“But we are forced to attend. One day, I was sick and went to Cuba for medical reasons. One judge said, 'I want him here'. He wanted me to be in court,” he said.
Zuma said even when money was found hidden in matrasses in Phala Phala, Ramaphosa never appeared in court.
He said this meant the law had eyes.
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The private prosecution stems from what Zuma alleged was the leaking of his private medical information by prosecutor Billy Downer to News24 journalist, Karyn Maughan in August 2021.
The former president wanted to prosecute Ramaphosa for failing to investigate or take necessary steps to bring Downer and Maughan to justice.
According to Zuma, this made Ramaphosa an accessory after the fact.
The court declared in July 2023 that Zuma's private prosecution of Ramaphosa was unlawful and unconstitutional. Zuma appealed.
The matter was postponed to 6 August.
Zuma further told his supporters that when they come back to court, MK will be in power.
“The current president will prosecute the former president who was his successor. I am joking. I have a good heart and I'll forgive him,” he said laughing.
Zuma told the gathering that the Electoral Commission (IEC) tried to sideline him by removing his name from the ballot.
“Even before the election date, those who govern election processes took a decision to exclude me from the ballot, and they said it was because I am a convict. But a person who stole money and hid it in the matrasses, the IEC, is mum about him. I have never stolen anything. Why does the IEC involve itself with politics? Their job is to count votes and teach us about voting,” said Zuma.
