Former president Jacob Zuma’s supporters will face the music for defying lockdown regulations, says KZN police commissioner.
KWAZULU-NATAL police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi says everyone who attended the Nkandla gatherings in support of former president Jacob Zuma will face the music for defying lockdown regulations.
Subsequent to the Constitutional Court judgment to arrest Zuma, throngs of his supporters have gathered outside his home in Nkandla to support him.
Zuma was expected to hand himself over to the police on Sunday, but his imprisonment was delayed after his lawyers filed an application to challenge his conviction.
However, his supporters continued to converge in large numbers outside his home, defying lockdown Level 4 restrictions.
Zuma is expected to address the media on Sunday evening.
The police, who had been monitoring the situation outside the premises of Zuma’s home, temporarily blocked the road leading to his home.
Tensions ran high among supporters, who were singing and insulting the police for their actions.
Mkhwanazi, who was among the Public Order Police, said they have deployed various police forces to identify culprits.
He added that the police had also deployed intelligence officials with cameras to follow the culprits after the gathering.
“Everyone that is participating in this gathering is committing crime,” he said. “We have deployed huge personnel around this area, including cameras, and we are identifying all the culprits. We will make sure every person who took part in this unlawful gathering faces the music.
“We have cameras and intelligence officials on the ground to identify any suspects,” he said.
As supporters came from different parts of the country, Mkhwanazi reassured that all culprits, including those from outside the province, would be charged and arrested.
Angry Zuma supporters insulted the police during the stand-off, singing songs inciting violence.
As the tensions ran high, the police unblocked the road and the crowed dispersed afterwards.
Supporters were still arriving in numbers by mid-afternoon.
Zuma is expected to address the media at 6pm.
