By Dylan Bettencourt
- The Constitutional Court ruled that it has no jurisdiction over Zuma and the MK party’s application against the president and refused them direct access.
- Advocate Dali Mpofu, who represented Zuma, added another legal defeat to his growing list after the court dismissed their case without hearing arguments.
Advocate Dali Mpofu has suffered another loss in court after the Constitutional Court dismissed an urgent case brought by former president Jacob Zuma and the uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party.
The case challenged President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to place Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on leave, appoint Professor Firoz Cachalia as acting minister, and set up a commission of inquiry into political interference in the police.
But the highest court in the country was not interested. Justice Rammaka Mathopo delivered the ruling on Thursday, saying the matter does not fall under the court’s jurisdiction.
“The court has considered the application for exclusive jurisdiction and direct access. It has concluded that the application does not engage the court’s jurisdiction and no case has been made out for direct access,” said Mathopo.
He added that the reasons for the ruling would be given at a later stage.
This comes after KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi accused Mchunu and other senior officials of interfering in police operations.
Zuma and the MK party claimed that Ramaphosa’s decisions were unconstitutional and violated legal procedures.
Speaking outside court, MK party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said they would consult legal and party officials. “This is a very serious issue, and we’re going to consult… this is more than anything else, just a travesty of justice,” he said.
Mpofu, who represented Zuma in court, said the former president was shocked by the ruling. “We might be back in this court, or we might be in another court,” he said.
The case adds to a long list of high-profile defeats for Mpofu, who has represented Zuma in several failed legal challenges.
Pictured above: Dali Mpofu.
Image source: @MkhontoweSizwex
