Staunch supporters of former president Jacob Zuma have gathered in Nkandla in anticipation of the arrival of SAPS officials who have until midnight to execute the Constitutional Court’s arrest warrant.
Zuma supporters threaten bloodshed
Police Minister Bheki Cele and SAPS Commissioner Khehla Sitole stalled until close of business on Wednesday, waiting for Acting Chief Justice Raymond Zondo to issue a response to their plea for a halt in the arrest order.
However, as expected, the State Capture Inquiry chairperson, who is at the centre of this impasse between Zuma and the judiciary, ignored the request and now, the police are duty-bound to haul the former president to jail for contempt.
Should this order not be executed, both Cele and Sitole will be charged with contempt and may also face a possible prison term.
At the time this article was published, it’s believed the police had made an attempt at gaining entry into Zuma’s estate but, from what we understand, the officers were turned away by decommissioned Umkhonto Wesizwe operatives who’ve held a barrier at the Nkandla homestead for over four months.
#Nkandla |Police are quickly turned away from the driveway into Zuma’s home by defiantly disbanded MKMVA.
— RIOT & ATTACK info South Africa (@RiotAndAttackSA) July 7, 2021
Ngizwe Mchunu is also on the frontline of the Zuma defence. pic.twitter.com/0yzfywMaz9
Zuma supporters continued to pile up outside the former president’s compound carrying bats and items that could inflict serious blunt force trauma if they were ever used.
The message from the former president’s supporters, led by his son Edward, is clear: blood will spill before Zuma is escorted out of Nkandla in handcuffs.
#ZumaJudgment
— Simangaliso Mshovi Gumede (@GumedeMshovi) July 7, 2021
Mr Edward Zuma pic.twitter.com/ftdZTpkpYK
Police prepare for showdown in Nkandla
Thus far, no official statement has come from Cele on what the next move is from the police. On Wednesday morning, his office had indicated that if Zondo had not responded to their letter, SAPS would be left with “no choice but to execute the Constitutional Court order, which clearly states that the former president has to be in custody before the end of today (Wednesday 7 July).”
“We still have until midnight to do so. So, we are still waiting essentially,” police ministry spokesperson Lirandzu Themba said.
While no direct confrontation between police and Zuma supporters has yet been witnessed, it appears that authorities are prepared for anything. These videos were taken by passers-by who witnessed, in various locations around Nkandla, teams of armed officers stationed at strategic points.
Somebody is gonna die tonight, how are they even going to arrest him mm
— All She Wanted OUT NOW !!! (@Cool_Clay) July 7, 2021
♂️ ♂️#Nkandla #ZumaArrest #ZumaJudgement #Pearl pic.twitter.com/vKN5eP89TI
#ZumaJudgement I spotted this at Eshowe, northern KZN. The town is closer to eNkandla where former President @PresJGZuma resides. There are reports of more @SAPoliceService members stationed eMpangeni. Reports suggest police could be planning an operation for Zuma. #eNCA pic.twitter.com/d7NmdB5djF
— Siphamandla Goge (@SiphamandlaGoge) July 7, 2021
It’s also reported that SAPS’ air wing unit has been placed on stand-by near KwaNxamalala, where Zuma’s compound is situated, in case things turn ugly in Nkandla.
This is a developing story.