Statement on former President Jacob Zuma handing himself over to serve his prison sentence
8 July 2021
The South African Communist Party (SACP) reiterates its stance reaffirming the supremacy of our constitution and the rule of law, including the principle, flowing from the Freedom Charter, that in our democratic dispensation no one is above the law.
That former President Jacob Zuma complied with the Constitutional Court judgment for him to either hand himself over or be arrested to serve his prison sentence is a clear sign that no one is above the law. Albeit late, during that 11th hour on Wednesday, 7 July 2021, he opted to hand himself over just before midnight instead of getting himself arrested. This sad situation should serve as a message to all, especially those who opportunistically sought to exploit it to sow civil strife, that we must all uphold the supremacy of our democratically adopted constitution and work towards the peaceful reconstruction, transformation, and development of our country.
It is sad that someone with former President Zuma’s track record, which includes a former head of state, and who dedicated most of his adult life fighting for liberation and reconstruction of our country, ends up in this unfortunate situation.
This sad turn of events could have easily been prevented through compliance with the processes of the rule of law, which former President Zuma articulated with distinction when he established the commission, then as the President of the republic.