Zuma told his supporters outside the homestead that he would appeal the 15-month imprisonment and lashed out at the judge.

Former South African President Jacob Zuma told hundreds of his supporters that he was appealing the 15-month sentence and slammed the judge who issued the verdict to fight them against the apartheid ruler he used to fight against the white minority .

The Supreme Court of South Africa, the Constitutional Court, Sentenced last week Zuma went to jail for ignoring a court order that required him to testify by the committee that investigated rampant corruption allegations during his presidency from 2009 to 2018.

Several witnesses, including former cabinet ministers and state-owned company executives, have confirmed Zuma’s misconduct, including allowing his accomplices, the Gupta family, to influence his cabinet appointments and lucrative national contracts.

The deadline for Zuma to surrender to the authorities is limited to midnight on Sunday (22:00 GMT). The court later agreed to hear his challenge to the 15-month sentence.

Zuma spoke at his home in Encandela, a rural area of ??KwaZulu-Natal province, where hundreds of his supporters, some of them armed, were gathered to prevent his arrest.

Zuma told reporters: “The fact that I was sentenced to punitive imprisonment without trial should shock everyone who believes in freedom and the rule of law.”

“South Africa is quickly returning to apartheid rule.”

Al Jazeera’s Fahmida Miller said in a Nkandla report that supporters cheered when the leader spoke, “especially when he is still provocative”.

“Supporters say this is an attack on the former president because what he supports is being vilified.”

Miller added that the crowd “comes and goes” but they may continue to show support outside of his residence.

“[Zuma] I have thanked the supporters for standing up and saying that he drew strength from their existence. Without them… he would be arrested. With them here, he was defended,” Miller added.

Zuma has initiated multiple court proceedings to avoid imprisonment. on Friday, he proposes An application was filed to the Constitutional Court to set aside his sentence, and the court will hear the application on July 12.

Zuma said: “We have written to the Constitutional Court and applied for revocation or commutation. Now we have set the date for the presentation of the case.”

His foundation announced that Zuma will apply for an injunction on Tuesday to prevent the police from arresting him. Zuma’s supporters said they hoped that the verdict would be completely reversed.

Over the weekend, the ruling African National Congress sent representatives to talk to Zuma at his home.

The party may face a serious political crisis between supporters of Zuma and others loyal to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who promised to fight corruption during the campaign.

Supporters gathered in front of the rural residence of former South African President Jacob Zuma in Encandela to make gestures [Emmanuel Croset / AFP]