Embattled former South African President Jacob Zuma has vowed to defy the court order that sentenced him 15-month in jail.
Gatekeepers News reports that Zuma was sentenced to jail after he frequently refused to appear before corruption investigators to give evidence.
After sentencing Zuma for contempt of court, South Africa’s constitutional court agreed to hear Zuma’s challenge to rescind the order.
Sunday was the deadline given to Zuma to surrender himself, however, he has still not shown any indication that he will hand himself to the authorities.
Zuma on Sunday told hundreds of his supporters that camped in front of his house in solidarity, that ‘he will not go to jail’.
The former President said he had sent letters to the court pleading the case that his sentencing “was wrong to ask and if they can reduce it or strike it out”.
“You have given the nation hope that no one will ever be mistreated or abused under this democratic dispensation,” the former South African President told the cheering crowd of supporters.
Gatekeepers News reports that the supporters have vowed to render the country ungovernable if Zuma ended up jailed.
“If (Police Minister) Bheki Cele comes here to arrest Baba (Zuma) he must start with us,” a protester Lindokuhle Maphalala said.
Zuma supporters who have vowed to protect him against jail time have also called for President Cyril Ramaphosa to step down.
