Zuma, MKP challenge Ramaphosa

Party heads to ConCourt over appointment of acting police minister

- LOYISO SIDIMBA

FORMER President Jacob Zuma and his uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) have asked the Constitutional Court to halt the implementation of President Cyril Ramaphosa's response to the bombshell allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

The MKP president and his party on Friday filed an urgent application at the apex court to declare invalid and inconsistent with the Constitution Ramaphosa's decision to place Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and appoint Prof Firoz Cachalia in an acting capacity as well as establish a commission of inquiry to be chaired by outgoing acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.

Zuma and the MKP also want the decisions to be declared invalid and set aside with immediate effect.

They also want further and alternative appropriate, just and equitable remedies including, where necessary, interim relief maintaining the status quo ante (before) the impugned decisions, pending the judgment.

In addition, Zuma and the MKP have asked the Concourt to refer the matter back to Ramaphosa to make constitutionally compliant decisions within 15 days of its order, where applicable.

Dr John Hlophe, MKP deputy president and leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, told the country’s highest court that Zuma brought the application in his personal capacity as a voter, taxpayer and citizen as well as ex-president.

"The events dealt with in this matter involve the subversion and multiple infringements of the fundamental rights of a citizen including political and socioeconomic rights," explained Hlophe.