‘Callous & insensitive’: JZ Foundation SLAMS scrutiny around his health

The Jacob Zuma Foundation is outraged by the level of scrutiny the former president’s health condition has been subjected to and is weighing its legal options.

This comes after the High Court in Pietermaritzburg agreed to postpone Zuma’s corruption case to 9 & 10 September and ordered his legal team to submit a medical report on his condition no later than 20 August.

Zuma was set to appear in court physically yesterday but remains in hospital where he has been since Friday.

In a statement issued on Tuesday evening, 10 August, the Foundation singles out the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and media.

“The Jacob Zuma Foundation is greatly disturbed by the callous and insensitive manor in which the NPA and certain sections of the media have deliberately chosen to deal with the delicate matter of the health condition of the former president,” spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi said.

The Foundation further says that state and private agencies which are in the pursuit of profit and hatred against a “particular individual” cannot be allowed to violate the former president’s most basic human right.

“The Foundation has accordingly instructed the legal team to take all the necessary legal steps to protect the grossly violated right of President Zuma. This will include but not be limited to reporting the culprits to their institutions of accountability and/or initiating criminal or civil proceedings”

The Jacob Zuma Foundation

Jacob Zuma Foundation slams NPA

While Jacob Zuma’s legal counsel advocate Dali Mpofu wanted the medical report be submitted by the end of the month, the NPA’s advocate Wim Trengove requested for an earlier submission to allow the prosecution to interrogate the findings.

The NPA had to rope in some legal help in the form of Trengove, to take on Zuma as he bids to have the state prosecutor in his arms deal trial, advocate Billy Downer recuse himself.

The Foundation seems to be particularly displeased with the NPA’s handling of the matter after it indicated that it would be appointing its own doctor to determine his fitness to stand trial.

“It’s highly inappropriate for the NPA to allow any persons speaking on its behalf to prematurely cast aspersions and doubt upon the professional integrity and opinions of other state functionaries whose only sin is to render services to a person they despise,” the Foundation added.