With Jacob Zuma’s bid to drag President Cyril Ramaphosa to court – while the High Court in Johannesburg yesterday issued a judgment banning the personal prosecution brought against Ramaphosa – political analysts warn that the radical economic transformation (RET) faction of the ANC may. to use more politically motivated tactics. The reaction of the presidency Reacting to the order, the spokesperson of the president Vincent Magwenya said the sentence “affirms all the claims of the president”: The jurisdiction of the court to hear the application of the interdict.
With Jacob Zuma’s bid to drag President Cyril Ramaphosa to court – while the High Court in Johannesburg yesterday issued a judgment banning the personal prosecution brought against Ramaphosa – political analysts warn that the radical economic transformation (RET) faction of the ANC may. to use more politically motivated tactics.
The president’s reaction
Reacting to the decision, presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the decision “affirms all the president’s main claims”:
- Jurisdiction of court to hear interdict applications.
- Urgency of the matter against the court appearance date based on prima facie unlawful nolle prosequi.
- A finding in Ramaphosa’s favor in violation of the right to personal liberty, based on prima facie defective summons.
“The verdict underscores the president’s position that the private prosecution is driven by ulterior motives – based on false and baseless allegations, is an abuse of the private prosecution provision and shows disregard for the law,” Magwenya said.
READ ALSO: High Court grants Ramaphosa urgent ban on Zuma’s personal prosecution
‘Win for Ramaphosa, lose for RET forces
While admitting that the court ruling was a blow to Zuma, who was seen as the embodiment of the RET forces that championed the campaign to oust Ramaphosa, political analyst Dr Melanie Verwoerd said: “The battle is still a long way off.
“This in itself is a victory for Ramaphosa’s fight and a defeat for the RET forces, but it is certainly not the end of the RET faction’s efforts to fight the president. It is very clear [RET] will continue to try and mobilize against him.
“The fact that they are so eager to have Ramaphosa stand down, clearly illustrates the political motive behind this prosecution.
“The push to humiliate him – to show him in the dock, is a clear indication of the politically driven motivation behind this prosecution.”
‘The battle will continue’
Independent political expert Sandile Swana said Ramaphosa was “not safe from the RET or his own supporters in the ANC”.
“The real battle is about Ramaphosa not providing enough for Zuma.
“The ANC’s internal fighting may be related to legal technicalities, but politically, it is about the idea that the ANC should continue to be a protection racket, with companies that do business with the ANC and their friends taking bribes from that entity.
“This battle will continue for some time until the ANC is soundly defeated at the polls.
“He will not remain comfortable in office if he does not provide protection to his colleagues for the offenses committed.
Experts weigh in
Legal expert Ulrich Roux described the order given by the court as “correct”.
“Zuma’s personal claim against Ramaphosa has been flawed from the start, as no nolle prosequi certificate has been issued in President Ramaphosa’s name.”
“Legally, the president is not required to act on Zuma’s complaint about National Prosecuting Authority prosecutor Billy Downer, because of the separation of powers doctrine.”
NOW READ: UPDATE: NPA backs Ramaphosa, says no private prosecution certificate issued for Zuma