It never rains but pours for former president Jacob Zuma.
It’s bad enough that the 79-year-old is serving a 15-month sentence at the Estcourt Correctional Centre for contempt of court.
Zuma’s young brother passed on in the same week South Africa erupted into violent unrest. The jailed former president has access to a television.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that Zuma’s twin children – Duduzile and Duduzane who were behind the #FreeZuma campaign – could be among the 12 instigators of insurrection sought by the police.
Zuma’s daughter Duduzile recently posted a picture of them together with a caption saying she missed her dad.
Police Minister Bheki Cele on Sunday said police were on the hunt for the “instigators and failed insurrectionists”.
He said three suspected instigators of the insurrection had been arrested, but he declined to give names.
More than 2 000 people have been arrested for public violence and looting.
Monday morning presents another challenge for Zuma.
The former president has been ordered to appear – though virtually – before the Pietermaritzburg High Court to answer to decades-old corruption allegations.
The Jacob Zuma Foundation has made it known that it prefers that its patron physically appears in court.
Apart from objecting to Prosecutor Billy Downer’s involvement in the trial “because he is biased”, Zuma’s lawyers could insist that the former president appears in person.
The court is expected to rule on Zuma’s special plea for Downer’s removal as prosecutor in his corruption trial. Zuma’s lawyers are also expected to make a plea for acquittal before trial.
The trial is scheduled to be heard virtually from 10am Monday 19 July 2021.
Live streaming: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JudiciaryRSA
