Zuma’s secret meetings with allies

FORMER president Jacob Zuma has been holding secret meetings with a select few of his closest allies, including rabblerouser Carl Niehaus, at a local resort in Durban.

Zuma, who is on medical parole, met former Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association spokesperson Niehaus and former SAA chairperson Dudu Myeni, who were among a group of more than 10 people, for a meeting which lasted about five hours.

Niehaus was arrested during a live television interview while showing solidarity with Zuma at the Estcourt prison in July, just before the country plunged into chaos.

In a conversation overheard between Zuma, who left the boardroom to use the toilet, and Niehaus, who had not yet joined the meeting, Niehaus asked how he was doing.

“I’m good as always,” Zuma responded with a smile and returned to the boardroom.

Independent Media approached Myeni, who came out of the meeting briefly, but she said: “It is none of your business.”

Myeni added that she did not owe anyone an explanation.

“Go and ask the spokesperson of the (Jacob Zuma) Foundation,” she said before returning to the meeting.

Mzwanele Manyi, spokesperson for the foundation, said what was discussed in the meeting was “not in the public’s interest”.

He said Zuma had every right to be where he wanted to be. “As long as he is in the province, he has not violated any medical parole rules.”

When asked whether the former president was fit enough to attend lengthy meetings, Manyi did not respond.

According to a reliable source, Zuma has made several visits to the Sibaya Casino following his release.

A further eight people, who were not part of the first meeting including Niehaus, were served cooldrinks, tea and water while seated outside the boardroom for about an hour before they entered.

Zuma’s daughter, Duduzile ZumaSambudla, who was called out for her perceived instigation of violence during the looting and unrest in July, was also present.

Responding to questions relating to Zuma’s parole conditions, spokesperson for the Department of Correctional Services, Singabakho Nxumalo, said yesterday that the former president had made a request to leave his residence to be in another town.

“This was approved by his monitoring official. We can confirm that permission was granted. This is in line with his parole conditions,” said Nxumalo.

Zuma’s release on medical parole was challenged by the Helen Suzman Foundation, the DA and AfriForum.

The former president was expected to appear at a mass prayer meeting at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Thursday but instead made his address via video in which he urged his supporters to vote for the ANC in the upcoming elections.

While Zuma was a no-show, his backers, former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede, former North West premier Supra Mahumapelo, former finance minister Des van Rooyen, ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule and Niehaus, were present at the stadium.

Zuma, 79, had reportedly been ill since his incarceration in July. He was found to be in contempt of a court order compelling him to appear before the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, in which he was expected to answer allegations made against him.

On July 7, he handed himself over to authorities at the 11th hour and began serving his 15-month prison sentence at the Estcourt Correctional Services. Less than two months into his sentence, most of which he spent in hospital, Zuma was released on medical parole.