Jacob Zuma compares South African judge and apartheid authorities to Jacob Zuma News

Zuma has filed a 15-month jail sentence against supporters outside his farm and told judges he will oppose it.

Former South African President Jacob Zuma has told hundreds of his supporters that he is appealing a 15-month prison sentence and has appealed against the judges who handed down the verdict, compared to the white apartheid authorities who once fought.

South African High Court, Constitutional Court, punishment last week Zuma was jailed for challenging a court order he had to testify before a commission investigating allegations of high-profile corruption from 2009 to 2018.

Several witnesses, including former cabinet ministers and high-ranking officials of state corporations, have testified against Zuma’s wrongdoing, including allowing his partners, the Gupta family, to influence his cabinet appointments and state contract earnings.

The deadline for Zumak to be handed over to the authorities was set for Sunday midnight (22:00 GMT). The court later agreed to hear the challenge against the 15-month sentence.

Zuma spoke at his home in Nkandla, a rural area in KwaZulu-Natal province, where hundreds of people were detained to avoid arrest, some of them armed.

“When I was sentenced to prison without trial, I should be shocked at all those who believe in freedom and the rule of law,” Zumak told reporters.

“South Africa is rapidly retreating to apartheid.”

Al Jazeera’s Fahmida Miller, reporting on Nkandla, said supporters were delighted when the leader spoke, “especially because he continues with the challenge.”

“Followers said it is an attack on the former president because of what he defended and because they despise him.”

Miller added that a lot of people have “come and go,” but they will likely continue to show support outside of their residence.

“[Zuma] the supporters thanked him for leaving, for their presence and for saying that he would come out strong without them … he would have been arrested, and they are defending themselves here with them, ”Miller added.

Zumaia has filed several lawsuits to prevent his imprisonment. On friday he filed a request for the suspension of the sentence with the Constitutional Court, which will be heard by the court on 12 July.

“We have written to the Constitutional Court and asked for this sentence to be overturned or reduced, and now they have given us a date to go and present our case,” Zuma said.

On Tuesday, Zuma will call for a ban to prevent police from arresting him, his foundation has reported. Zuma supporters have said they want the sentence to be dropped altogether.

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

The party could face a serious political crisis between those who support Zuma and those who are loyal to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is committed to tackling corruption.

Followers wink when they gather in front of the former South African president Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla country house [Emmanuel Croset / AFP]