Mixed reaction to warrant of arrest for Jacob Zuma

05 February 2020 - 05:55 By Unathi Nkanjeni

Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.

Former president Jacob Zuma's corruption trial will resume on May 6, provided there are no more delays. A warrant for his arrest will come into effect on that date if he does not appear in court.
Image: File

Twitter users have come out guns blazing after news that a warrant of arrest has been issued for former president Jacob Zuma.

Judge Dhaya Pillay issued the warrant on Tuesday, after Zuma's legal team applied for him to be absent from his corruption trial in the Pietermaritzburg high court on “medical” grounds.

TimesLIVE reported that the warrant was stayed until May 6, when Zuma's criminal matter is expected back in court.

Zuma's lawyer, Daniel Mantsha, submitted a sick note from a military hospital where he says Zuma was treated, but Pillay refused to accept the document, saying there were inconsistencies in it.

Warrant of arrest for Jacob Zuma: judge says sick note inadmissible

A warrant of arrest has been issued for former president Jacob Zuma until his next court date.

News

4 years ago

Zuma's trial saw the former president topping the Twitter trends list.

Here is a snapshot of the reactions:

#ZumaTrial

The drama is unnecessary & a warrant is unnecessary, for now!

Let the court call the treating doctors to lead evidence in camera or in a humane manner!

Thereafter, a decision can be made!

Lawyers aren’t Doctors & must stay in their lane
— Tumi Sole (@tumisole) February 4, 2020

#ZumaTrial if you see Zuma sing to him that phoyisa song !!!! 🎶 “ eh bare why you skipped the court” pic.twitter.com/CLmtMO4MmL
— Goku. (@MoremaRivaldo) February 4, 2020

No! I'm not into law but it's absurd to issue a warrant of arrest when the accused has notified sick. What's wrong with the justice system? #Zuma #ZumaTrial
— Ratombo (@stoneman_o) February 4, 2020

Warrant of arrest is always issued whenever an accused person is in default ....the execution thereof stayed until return date if there was a medical certificate submitted or if good cause was shown by attorney for accused. the uproar arising from #ZumaTrial is really unnecessary
— willies shabangu (@YLLO_Shabangu) February 4, 2020

Ubaba keeps on breaking records😂. He now officially becomes the first democratically elected president who the court has issued a warrant of arrest.

#ZumaTrial pic.twitter.com/VIIofejAmv
— Modibe Modiba (@mmodiba10) February 4, 2020

Jacob Zuma is very smart, but he is forgetting one thing;He is no longer the president. 💔#ZumaTrial #eNCA
— Vee King (@VeeKingSA) February 4, 2020

Lawyers are not doctors

President Jacob Zuma has a team of specialists Doctors who have said he's not medically fit to stand trial at this point

The Warrant of arrest is really unnecessary and further proves the State has already decided that Zuma is guilty.
#ZumaTrial
— Marxist (@Kgomo389) February 4, 2020