Pretoria - There was a heavy police presence outside the high court in Pretoria on Tuesday, where members of the EFF and other political parties and civic organisations were protesting against President Jacob Zuma's legal attempt to stop the so-called state capture report being made public.
The report on whether the wealthy Gupta family had any undue influence on the appointment of ministers and other top government officials was compiled by Thuli Madonsela before her tenure as public protector ended last month.
“Zuma knows this is going to be bad news for him; he rushes at the last minute to do an interdict, and if he is given the opportunity he will drag us to the Supreme Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court until next year,” unionist Zwelinzima Vavi said outside court.
“I hope the full bench that will be hearing this matter will put its foot down and say no to further delaying tactics,” Vavi said.
A crowd of several hundred people, including a large contingent of EFF members, had gathered outside the courthouse to protest.
Zuma, Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Des van Rooyen and Minister of Mineral Resources Mosebenzi Zwane have all asked the court to stop the release of the report.
Reports at the weekend suggested Van Rooyen visited the Gupta family home in Saxonwold, Johannesburg, for seven consecutive days before he was appointed as finance minister in December. His ill-fated tenure lasted just four days before he was moved to his present portfolio.
Several political parties, including the DA, EFF, United Democratic Movement and Cope, are opposing the trio’s court action.
“South Africans deserve to know the truth… it’s their money. Those who have been defrauded the most here are the people of this country,” said DA leader Mmusi Maimane.
African News Agency