NEC Holds Special Meeting to Discuss Zuma's Arrest Defiance, Unions Respond to Govt Wage Offer

LOCAL NEWS

• NEC will meet today to discuss the matter in a special one-day meeting that was postponed on Friday for fear of violence in KZN. Comes after AfriForum joined Zuma's cause, saying the ConCourt's concession violates the principle of equality before the law
• Zuma refuses to go to prison voluntarily, insisting he is innocent, and vowing to challenge the matter. Says he is confident that police will not arrest him, given the sheer number of supporters protecting Nkandla.
  • Legal experts note police are still under order by the Constitutional Court to arrest Zuma who had until Sunday to hand himself over - failing which, the police are to arrest him within three days.
  • While Zuma has been granted permission to appear before the court to plea for his sentence to be rescinded, this does not stay the sentence
• Magashule breaks terms of his suspension, addressing Zuma supporters on Sunday saying those trying to destroy the ANC could not tell members to leave, "No one can push us out."
• Public Protector Mkhwebane may approach the Constitutional Court on its Judgment in Ramaphosa to reconsider its finding that she "changed" wording in the executive code of ethics when it dismissed her appeal on her CR17 funding report
• Further strikes loom as govt tables its final offer to unions for public sector salary increases – offering the same budgeted 1.5% increase, and a slightly higher once-off bonus of between R1,220 to R1,695 for workers, depending on their pay level.
  • Unions are demanding CPI+4% (~9.2%) – as well as a once-off bonus of R1,500. Municipal workers have already rejected offers made in their salary negotiations, and have applied to go on strike.
  • If government's offer is rejected by other public workers, the same could happen