Zuma v Minister of Police

• Jurisdiction: South Africa
• Judge: Mnguni J
• Judgment Date: 09 July 2021
• Docket Number: 4686/2021P
• Hearing Date: 06 July 2021
• Court: KwaZulu-Natal Division, Pietermaritzburg
• Citation: 2021 JDR 1496 (KZP)

Mnguni J:

Introduction:

[1]

This is an urgent application in which the applicant, Mr Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma (Mr Zuma) seeks an order in two-fold:

(a) First (Part A):

'. . .

2. That, pending the outcome of the rescission application, which is before the Constitutional Court, in respect of the matter of Secretary of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector including Organs of Sate v Zuma and Others (Case No CCT52/21), and the due determination of orders in Part B of this Notice of Motion, an order is hereby granted:

2.1

Staying and/or suspending the execution of the relevant orders in the aforementioned orders pending the outcome of the application for an order of reconsideration and rescission of orders and judgment in Secretary of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector including Organs of Sate v Zuma and Others referred to in paragraphs 2 above; and/or

2.2

Interdicting the first and second respondents from executing the orders in paragraphs 4, 5 and 6 of the aforementioned judgment.

. . .'

(b) Second (Part B):

2021 JDR 1496 p3

Mnguni J

'5. Declaring that in circumstances such as the present, the crime of civil contempt of court must be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977;

6. Declaring the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 to be unconstitutional insofar as it fails or omits to make any provision for the conduct of a criminal trial in respect of proceedings in which contempt of court proceedings are conducted for the sole and exclusive purpose of securing the imprisonment of any person.

. . .'

Parties:

[2]

The main role players in these proceedings are: Mr Zuma, the former President of the Republic of South Africa; the first respondent, the Minister of Police; the second respondent, the National Commissioner for the South African Police Service, the third respondent, the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, and the sixth respondent, the President of the Republic of South Africa. The first, second, third, and sixth respondents have filed notices to abide the decision of the court.

[3]

The fourth respondent is the Secretary of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, Fraud and Corruption in the Public Sector, Including Organs of State ('the Secretary'). The fifth respondent is the current Honourable Acting Chief Justice, Mr Raymond Mnyamezeli Zondo N.O., the Chairperson of the Commission ('the Chairperson'). Collectively the Secretary and the Chairperson will be referred to as the Commission.

[4]

The seventh respondent is the Helen Suzman Foundation, who was joined as amicus curiae in the First [1] and Second Judgments [2] of the Constitutional Court. The seventh respondent will be referred to as the Foundation.

[5]

The Commission and the Foundation are opposing this application.

2021 JDR 1496 p4

Mnguni J

Background:

[6]

The background facts are very important to this application and will be set out in some detail.

The initial summons issued by the Commission

[7]

In the course of its inquiry into allegations of state capture, corruption and fraud, the Commission issued a summons for Mr Zuma to appear before it for examination from 16 to 20 November 2020. The purpose of this summons was for Mr Zuma to give evidence and to be questioned on various matters that are the subject matter of the Commission's investigation. He was also required to respond to the evidence of certain witnesses, which evidence implicates or may implicate him of certain acts of wrongdoing. The alleged corruption, and acts which might constitute state capture, are alleged to have occurred during Mr Zuma's term of office as the President of the Republic of South Africa.

[8]

Mr Zuma attended the proceedings on 16 November 2020. On that day, his legal representatives moved an application for the Chairperson's recusal. The recusal application was fully argued on 16 November 2020, and on 19 November 2020, the Chairperson dismissed the recusal application. At that stage, the head of the Commission's Legal Team, Mr Paul Pretorius, was prepared to commence questioning Mr Zuma. However, Mr Zuma's then legal representative, Mr Sikhakhane SC, informed the Chairperson of Mr Zuma's decision to 'excuse himself' from the proceedings. Mr Sikhakhane also informed the Chairperson of Mr Zuma's decision to take the recusal ruling on review, and to report the Chairperson to the Judicial Service Commission on the basis that, by deciding Mr Zuma's recusal application, he had adjudicated a matter to which he was a party.

[9]

Despite being advised that he was not entitled to leave the proceedings and that his absence would constitute a criminal offence, Mr Zuma left the proceedings during the tea adjournment, without the Chairperson's permission. He further did not appear on 20 November 2020 as required by the summons.

[10]

Given Mr Zuma's refusal to comply with the summons issued, the Commission approached the Constitutional Court for an order, inter alia, declaring that Mr Zuma

2021 JDR 1496 p5

Mnguni J

was required to appear before the Commission whenever served with a summons to do so, declaring his failure to remain in attendance at the Commission on 19 November 2020 to be unlawful, directing Mr Zuma to give evidence and answer any question, subject to his right against self-incrimination, and to comply with any directions issued by the Chairperson. [3] Mr Zuma, despite having been served with the application papers, did not oppose the application. Instead, he caused his then attorneys of record to address a letter to the Commission indicating that he would not be participating in those proceedings 'at all'. The application was argued unopposed before the Constitutional Court on 29 December 2020.

Mr Zuma's refusal to appear in January 2021

[11]

By 11 January 2021, the Constitutional Court had not yet delivered its judgment. A fresh summons was served on Mr Zuma requiring him to appear before the Commission a week later, on 18 January 2021. The Commission accordingly wrote to Mr Zuma's attorneys, advising them that Mr Zuma was required to comply with the summons and to appear before the Commission from 18 to 22 January 2021, notwithstanding the fact that the Constitutional Court had not yet delivered its judgment. The letter also expressly stated that the summons requiring him to appear on those dates remained valid and binding, as it had not been withdrawn, set aside or suspended.

[12]

In response, on 15 January 2021, Mr Zuma's attorneys addressed a letter to the Commission, recording that Mr Zuma would not be appearing between 18 and 22 January 2021. Two reasons were given for this:

(a)

that 'President Zuma can only be legally obliged to appear after his review application has been determined'; and

(b)

that 'the Commission must await the decision of the Constitutional Court which has a bearing on President Zuma's appearance'.

Mr Zuma did not appear at the Commission between 18 and 22 January 2021 as directed.

2021 JDR 1496 p6

Mnguni J

The Constitutional Court's First Judgment

[13]

The Constitutional Court delivered its First Judgment in respect of this matter on 28 January 2021, the relevant paragraphs of the order reading:

'. . .

4. Mr Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is ordered to obey all summonses and directives lawfully issued by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector, including Organs of State (Commission).

5. Mr Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is directed to appear and give evidence before the Commission on dates determined by it.

6. It is declared that Mr Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma does not have a right to remain silent in proceedings before the Commission.

7. It is declared that Mr Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is entitled to all privileges under section 3(4) of the Commissions Act, including the privilege against self-incrimination. . .' [4]

After delivery of that judgment, and on 15 February 2021, Mr Zuma caused his then attorneys of record, Mabuza Attorneys, to address a letter to the Commission stating that he would not be presenting himself at the Commission.

[14]

The Constitutional Court granted its order, notwithstanding the fact that the review application was pending before the high court. The Constitutional Court emphasised the public importance of Mr Zuma's evidence before the Commission. Both the Constitutional Court's judgment and order were served on Mr Zuma by the sheriff on 5 February 2021, at his residences in Forest Town (Gauteng) and Nkandla (KwaZulu-Natal).

Mr Zuma's continued refusal to appear before the Commission

[15]

On 1 February 2021, Mr Zuma issued a public statement in his own name, entitled 'Statement on Constitutional Court Decision Compelling Me to Appear before the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture.' This letter is in the public domain, and its contents will not be reproduced herein.

[16]

On 15 February 2021, and despite being summoned to do so, Mr Zuma failed to attend the Commission. Instead, his lawyers addressed a letter to the Commission

2021 JDR 1496 p7

Mnguni J

to inform it 'as a matter of courtesy' that he would not be appearing between 15 and 19 February 2021. Again, the letter cited two reasons:

(a)

First, that the Constitutional Court did not consider, determine and/or adjudicate the application to review the Chairperson's decision not to recuse himself, and that appearing before the Commission 'would undermine and invalidate the review application'.

(b)

Second, it was contended that the summons issued to Mr Zuma to appear on 15 to 19 February 2021 was 'irregular and not in line with the Fourth order of the Constitutional Court'.

[17]

...