South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Wednesday 30 June 2021
We’ve got the latest news in South Africa, with all the top stories making headlines across the country on Wednesday 30 June 2021.
What a bombshell!? It was felt throughout the country and all the way to Dubai we’re sure. Jacob Zuma is GUILTY as charged and has been sentenced to 15 months in jail. The former president now has five to report to the Nkandla police station to be taken into custody. What a time to be alive?
TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Wednesday 30 JUNE
Could Ramaphosa grant Zuma a ‘presidential pardon’?
It would be outrageous. Some would perhaps call it political suicide. But one question that has been raised today punts for the improbable: Does Cyril Ramaphosa have the authority to grant Jacob Zuma a ‘presidential pardon’? The 79-year-old ex-president is now facing a 15-month stay in the slammer, after he was found guilty on a contempt of court charge.
We know, you’d get better odds on Hlaudi Motsoeneng winning the 2024 presidential election. But just because President Ramaphosa probably WON’T grant a pardon to his predecessor, that doesn’t mean he CAN’T do it. In another life, if Cyril and Jacob played nicely and got along with each other, this ‘get out of jail card’ could be used by Ramaphosa.
“The presidential pardon is an executive act of mercy to be exercised by the President in his exclusive discretion, and which will only be reviewable by the courts in limited circumstances where bad faith by the President can be proved.”
“The process of applying for a presidential pardon requires an individual to first apply to the Minister of Justice, before that application is then forwarded to the Presidency. This must happen because the Department of Justice is responsible for motivating to the Presidency either in favour or in opposition to the application.” | SA Government website
The Constitution enshrines any president’s right to pardon a fellow citizen – as long as it is done in good faith. A head of state would still be encouraged by the Department of Justice to rule in a certain manner, but the ultimate decision lies with the person elected to run the country. According to Section 84 of the hallowed document:
- – “The President has the powers entrusted by the Constitution and legislation, including those necessary to perform the functions of Head of State and head of the national executive. Therefore, they are responsible for… pardoning or reprieving offenders and remitting any fines, penalties or forfeitures.” | The Constitution of South Africa
Acting Chief Justice to resign following historic Zuma ruling
Hours after Acting Chief Justice Sisi Khampepe delivered one of the most prolific Constitutional Court judgments in the history of democratic South Africa on Tuesday, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) confirmed that her position is up for grabs when she leaves the Judiciary later this year.
Khampepe sent the South African public into a frenzy on Tuesday morning when she found former President Jacob Zuma guilty of contempt of court and sentenced him to 15-months direct imprisonment, but it appears as though that will be her parting gift to the country before she vacates her post.
The JSC said in a statement that two Constitutional Court vacancies will be occasioned by the impending discharge from active service of Justices Khampepe and Chris Jafta in October this year, and advertised them to prospective applicants.
“Nominations must be accompanied by the candidate’s written consent, detailed curriculum vitae disclosing the candidate’s formal qualifications for appointment,, the standard questionnaire completed and signed by the candidate,, as well as copies of at least three written judgments by the candidate,” they said.
Khampepe was named as acting Chief Justice while her superior, Mogoeng Mogoeng, continues to take leave. Mogoeng vacated his position temporarily in May this year in line with Judiciary mandated policy. Rumours had emerged that he was in fact set to vacate his position entirely, but the JSC dispelled these.
Now Nando’s inflames JZ fans’ Twitter rage
@NandosSA got a fiery grilling on Twitter when JZ’s fans and followers accused the brand of cooking up political drama with its witty meme about former President Jacob Zuma’s conviction and sentencing for contempt of court on Tuesday.
Zuma was convicted and sentenced to 15 months direct imprisonment in the Constitutional Court after he defied its order to appear at the Zondo Commission on state capture. He has been given five days to hand himself over to the police to begin serving his sentence.
Quick to fire up its sense of humour and to court controversy Nando’s posted about the Jacob Zuma sentencing on Twitter. “A lockdown we can all get behind #JacobZuma #ListenProperly,” Nando’s Tweeted with an accompanying meme. The meme joked: “Do not pass Go, Do not collect seven-hundred and sixty-nine eight-hundred million. Delivery in 5 days”.
What immediately followed was a barrage of threats from angry Jacob Zuma fans who said they would immediately stop buying Nandos chicken.
@ThandeKalo stated: “This day I stop eating Nandos” and @Bheko_N asked incredulously: “Are you guys joining or taking sides on political battles?”
Up piped another Jacob Zuma fan @Fankie_Mzimela with a threatening word: “They’re taking sides and it won’t end well. We will hurt their business where it hurts most.” Others like @_AfricanSoil, who was blocked by Nando’s after his angry tweet, were also threatening.
Carl Niehaus is fuming – and he wants SA to ‘resist’ Jacob Zuma’s arrest
While many South Africans will welcome the jail sentence handed to Jacob Zuma on Tuesday, we may have to spare a thought for Carl Niehaus at this point. Msholozi’s biggest cheerleader has not taken the news well, and he issued a statement on his social media channels earlier today.
The senior ANC member and MKMVA enthusiast is calling for an uprising from the people, in order to ‘resist’ the punitive measures taken against the former president. He has argued vehemently that the ConCourt verdict tramples on ‘democratic rights’, and said that the concept of jailing his 79-year-old comrade is ‘unacceptable’.
It’s still not clear how the MKMVA will respond to any potential attempts to arrest Jacob Zuma, who has a five-day deadline to hand himself over. His family claims that they will ‘escort’ uBaba to Nkandla Police Station soon, but as we know with the Zumas, this is probably the best time to expect the unexpected.
Cele warns that lockdown non-compliance ‘won’t be tolerated’
Police Minister Bheki Cele said that police and law enforcement agencies are ready to enforce lockdown compliance during Adjusted Alert Level 4 lockdown, but stressed that their aim is to save lives and not to make arbitrary arrests.
During a media briefing by the Ministers on National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) on Tuesday 29 June, Cele said that he wants the South African Police Service (SAPS) to work in cooperation with the pubic to ensure that ives are saved during the rapidly spreading third wave of COVID-19 infections.
Cele began his brief address by welcoming the commitment from government to begin prioritising vaccinations for members of the SAPS, and said that over 180 000 police officers and administrative staff will receive the jab in the coming weeks.
He said that since the start of the pandemic, a total of 666 police members have lost their lives to the deadly virus.
Cele said that the 14-days of hard lockdown facing the South African public will require that SAPS do its utmost to ensure compliance with laws surrounding movement and gatherings, adding that they “will have their work cut out for themselves”.
“We know that for the next two weeks it will not be business as usual as we operate under adjusted alert level 4,” he said.
“Over and above the National vaccination program that is underway, breaking the chain of transmission by reducing person-to-person contact remains a priority as Government, if we are to flatten the curve.”
No arrest yet for the brutal killing of an Eastern Cape farmer
The police are still on the hunt for the suspect involved in the brutal murder of a 34-year-old Eastern Cape farmer at the weekend.
Richter was doing patrols on the Thornvlei road when he noticed a suspicious vehicle. He immediately called the neighbouring farmers for reinforcement.
Police said when the farmers arrived at the scene they found a seriously injured Richter.
“At the time of their arrival, the farmer was reportedly still alive and was able to provide information about the incident, however, he later succumbed to his injuries at the scene.”
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