NATIONAL NEWS - The Constitutional Court has dismissed former president Jacob Zuma and the MK party’s urgent application to invalidate President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to place Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu on a leave of absence, appoint Wits law professor Firoz Cachalia as acting police minister and establish a commission of inquiry.
The court has ruled that the application does not engage the court’s jurisdiction and has refused direct access to the MK party and Zuma in its matter against Ramaphosa.
ConCourt ruling
Justice Rammaka Mathopo handed down the apex court’s ruling at 2pm on Thursday.
“The court has considered the application for exclusive jurisdiction and direct access. It has concluded that the application does not engage does not engage the court’s jurisdiction and no case has been made out for direct access.
“And the following order is made. One, direct access is refused; two, courts are reserved; three, reasons for this order shall be given at a later date. Thank you,” Mathopo said.
Reaction
Speaking outside, court, MK party national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said they will be consulting with national officials.
“This is a very serious issue, and we’re going to consult, I need to consult with the national officials, obviously, with our legal team, but as to what the next steps are. But in this country, quite honestly, this is more than anything else, just a travesty of justice.”
Zuma counsel, Advocate Dali Mpofu, said the former president has expressed “his own shock” at the ruling.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future in relation to this matter, we might be back in this court or we might be in another court”.
MK party challenge
The battle follows allegations by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi during a media briefing this month. He accused Mchunu and deputy national commissioner for crime detection Shadrack Sibiya of political interference in police operations.
Zuma and the MK Party argued that the move was unconstitutional, flagging serious legal and procedural violations.
*This is a developing story.
Article: Caxton publication, The Citizen
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