Pietermaritzburg High Court Judge Dhaya Pillay issued a surprise warrant of arrest against former President Jacob Zuma, in order to secure his court appearance earlier yesterday.

This was after Zuma’s non-appearance before the high court, where he was to answer for alleged corruption, emanating from the multi-billion arms deal Thales.

However, the warrant of arrest does not mean that the South African Police Service will immediately launch a massive manhunt for Zuma or detain him, until he is presented in court for the next appearance billed, for the 6th May 2020.

In a brief explainer by Advocate Billy Downer to Independent Media, the lead prosecutor for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in the case, said the warrant will be left hanging, and Zuma will explain when he next appears in court, and why he was not there on the 4th February, 2020.

According to Downer, on May 6, Zuma will be quizzed by the court, and if he does not give a satisfactory explanation, he may be criminally charged for that.

He also said if Zuma argues he was sick, he has to produce the evidence which may be viewed without compromising confidentiality.