Jacob Zuma compares South African judges to apartheid rulers | The Story of Jacob Zuma

Zuma tells supporters outside his house that he has asked to be jailed for 15 months and reprimanded judges.

Former South African President Jacob Zuma has told hundreds of his supporters that they are asking for a 15-month prison sentence and reprimanding judges who have handed down the verdict, compared to the few whites who have already ruled.

South African High Court, Supreme Court, last week he was convicted Zuma has been jailed for refusing to appear in court before a committee investigating corruption cases during his presidency from 2009 to 2018.

Several witnesses, including former Cabinet ministers and government officials, have testified to Zuma’s wrongdoing, including allowing his Gupta family members to run for office in the run-up to the by-elections.

Zuma’s deadline for submission to government officials was set at midnight on Sunday (22:00 GMT). The court subsequently agreed to the 15-month sentence.

Zuma was speaking at his home in Nkandla, a rural area in KwaZulu-Natal province, where hundreds of his supporters, some of them armed, gathered to arrest him.

“The fact that I have been sentenced to prison without trial should surprise all those who believe in freedom and the rule of law,” Zuma told reporters.

“South Africa is falling behind in apartheid rule.”

Al Jazeera’s Fahmida Miller, who spoke from Nkandla, said his supporters were happy when the leader spoke, “especially since he did not do well”.

Proponents of her case have been working to make the actual transcript of this statement available online.

Miller added that the majority of people “come and go,” but will continue to help outside the shelter.

“[Zuma] “He thanked his supporters for coming out, saying that he got the power from them and without them … he would have been arrested, and with them here he was protected,” Miller added.

Zuma has set up several courts to avoid arrest. On Friday, adasuma a petition by the Constitutional Court to set aside its decision, which the court will hear on July 12.

“We are writing to the Constitutional Court and requesting that the ruling be set aside or reduced, and we have now been given a date to go to court,” Zuma said.

On Tuesday, Zuma will file a restraining order against the police, the foundation has been announced. Zuma’s supporters have called for the ruling to be overturned.

Over the weekend, the ruling African National Congress sent a delegation to speak to Zuma at his home.

The party could face political turmoil between Zuma’s supporters and others loyal to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has pledged to fight corruption.

Proponents of her case have been working to make the actual transcript of this statement available online [Emmanuel Croset / AFP]