As with many of our leaders during the struggle, I believe that history will vindicate me

when I say that South Africa today is in the process of changing from a constitutional

democracy to a constitutional dictatorship. After the judgment of the Constitutional

Court on 17 September 2021, I am more than certain of this than ever before. Many

of our people are blind to this reality at this point because they have been successfully

hypnotized by the long-standing anti-Zuma narrative. It is perhaps convenient or even

befitting for others that the laws of this country be repeatedly bent and manipulated

when dealing with Zuma. To illustrate this point in the current context I shall only cite

but three examples.

Firstly, the Commission of Inquiry Into Allegations of State Capture was born out of an

anomaly in that the previous Public Protector Madonsela made a recommendation

that a commission of inquiry be set up to continue an investigation that she had started

as her term of office was coming to an end. This was an anomaly because the Public

Protector was supposed to hand over the investigation to her successor as she did

with all the other investigations of her office that were not completed when her term of

office ended. However, given that this was a case that had something to do with Zuma,

a different process was followed to set up a commission of inquiry to the extent that

for the first time, the presidential prerogative and powers to appoint a commission of

inquiry were unilaterally usurped by Public Protector and handed to the Chief Justice.

Interestingly, the reason given at the time was that I would not appoint an independent

judge, lending credence to the idea that there are some judges who are not
independent. This posture by the Public Protector was not perceived as an attack on

the integrity of our judges and was instead accepted as plausible by the Judge

President of Gauteng Division of the High Court. As President at the time, I challenged

this as something unconstitutional. Judge Mlambo presided over this matter and in his

judgment found in favour of the former Public Protector Madonsela’s decision of

usurping the constitutional powers of the President. I appealed Judge Mlambo

judgement but when President Ramaphosa took over as president, he abandoned that

appeal before it had been heard by the Supreme Court of Appeal. This appeal was

intended to overturn the overreach and violation of the constitutional separation of

powers by the former Public Protector Madonsela.

Secondly, the commission chaired by judge Zondo was set up in terms of the

Commissions Act of 1947. This Act is clear on what the law is in cases of contempt of

commissions. At the time I did not oppose that application because I had a genuine

belief that the judges of the Constitutional Court would not grant direct access over an

issue like contempt of a commission of inquiry. I trusted that in keeping with all their

previous decisions, the Constitutional Court would show deference to the principle of

subsidiarity and allow the lower courts their rightful place to deal with the issue of my

attendance at the commission as at that point there was no constitutional issue that

would invoke the direct involvement of the Constitutional Court. Legally and as again

stated by the dissenting judgment, the Commissions Act is the primary legislation that

had to be followed as it had been followed when PW Botha refused to appear before

the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The Constitutional Court in this case

somehow found it fitting to deviate from its own rules and it was again another case of

the laws and the Constitution being bent and manipulated to specifically deal with
Zuma. I would have welcomed an opportunity to lead evidence before an independent

judge presiding over the State Capture commission or to explain to an independent

judge why I felt judge Zondo was biased and conflicted in hearing my evidence at the

commission.

Thirdly, once the whole contempt debacle had run its full course with judge Zondo’s

subordinates presiding over a matter that had directly called into question his integrity

as a judge, the Constitutional Court again made decisions and took actions that have

never been taken in our law by asking that I do a mitigation of sentence where there

had been no conviction. I feel vindicated in that it still remains the contention of the

minority judges that everything that has happened since then has been

unconstitutional. It has never happened that in a dissenting decision of the

Constitutional Court that the dissenting judges go as far as accusing their colleagues

of acting unconstitutionally.

Most astounding of all though, is how the Constitutional Court has for the first time

ever stated that it does not have to consider international law as directed by Section

39(1)(b) of the Constitution. It is a very sad day in our history to observe how those

we have entrusted with the Constitution now consider themselves above the

Constitution. I have been rebuked for my public comments about the conduct of certain

members of the judiciary and I do not understand why. It is my constitutional right to

publicly critique judges the same way they have a right to critique me as a politician.

Freedom of expression is a fundamental right in our Bill of Rights and for that to be

used against me as aggravation in imposing a sentence for civil contempt is another

of the many anomalies I remain a victim of in this emerging constitutional dictatorship.

Lastly, I would like to thank the many comrades and people who have been supporting

me and continue to support me in the struggle to help liberate the black African person

and South Africans. I would also like to thank my legal team as led by Advocate Mpofu

SC and Advocate Masuku SC for their bravery and resolve against the most difficult

legal obstacles at all times. It is important to bear in mind that fighting these cases

against me is part of the struggle to bring justice, dignity and respect for the black

African. My life has come full circle in taking me from being a herd boy, worker, trade

unionist, a freedom fighter, a volunteer, a revolutionary and a soldier of Umkhonto

weSizwe under the African National Congress. I became a political prisoner for 10

years under the apartheid regime which did not care about my rights. I understood the

apartheid regime’s attitude because they were indeed my oppressors. Now, I have

been a prisoner without a trial, in a South Africa that is said to be free and respecting

the rights of its citizens, where I never thought this would occur on me or anyone else.

I wear the badge of being a political prisoner with the greatest pride as the struggle for

the freedom of the African against all forms of oppression, including oppression of the

African by other collaborator Africans, has been my sole mission in life. I urge all those

who support me to remain resolute and steadfast in the belief that this is not the end.

I shall fight on. Justice shall prevail. Injustice will be defeated. We will attain true

freedom and liberation for the African in the end.

ALUTA CONTINUA! VICTORY IS CERTAIN!

JACOB GEDLEYIHLEKISA MHLANGANYELWA ZUMA