Admin l Saturday, July 10, 2021
ESTCOURT, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa- Protesters have shutdown Estcourt Town, Kwazulu Natal where former President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma is serving his 15 months imprisonment for contempt of court.
The protesters, who have mounted barricades with burn fires across major roads, throwing stones and bottles have made it impossible for vehicles to pass through the area. Reports monitored on SABC, shows that about 23 trucks were set alight overnight.
Although, authorities are clearing the roads, the protesters have said they will shut down the city until former President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma is set free from prison.
The protesters believe that the authority should have dealt with Zuma in a different way instead of his present incarceration. The blockades were mounted about 3 kilometres from Escourt Correctional Facilities where Zuma is serving his prison terms.
We gathered that the local policemen are finding it difficult to deal with the situation since they are also receiving threats from the local people.
A local police officer who spoke to SABC, said there have been arrest since yesterday and that arrest will continue today. She said the police is ready to combat the violence.
Sihle Zikalala, Kwazulu Natal Premier has called for calm. He said people have the right to protest but that they must do it peacefully in accordance with the law.
However, the Jacob Zuma foundation believes that what has happened to Zuma is nothing but injustice. The foundation described it as a vicious sentence without trial and incarceration without trial adding that what has happened is provocative.
Spokesperson for the foundation, Mr. Mzwanele Manyi refused to condemn the protest since he believes the interest of justice has not been served. “Why is President Zuma sentenced to jail without trial”, he queried, and called on the Constitutional Court to self correct itself by reversing the sentence.
