As The War Rages, Zelensky Will Press The G7 For More Assistance

Carl Niehaus, a suspended Umkhonto Wesizwe Military Veteran’s Association representative, says he feels vindicated after the Estcourt Magistrate’s Court dropped the COVID-19 contravention case against him on Monday.

He was charged for illegally gathering outside Estcourt prison after former President Jacob Zuma was imprisoned for disobedience of a Constitutional Court order requiring him to appear and testify before the state capture committee.

Niehaus had been to Estcourt to express his support for Zuma.

In July of last year, he was arrested by police in the KwaZulu-Natal town of Estcourt while being questioned live on television.

Carl Niehaus’s case had been postponed since last month after his counsel applied for a discharge under Section 174 of the Constitution.

Advocate Nthabiseng Mokoena argued that the state had no evidence to present a strong case against her client.

On Monday the court ruled in Niehaus’ favour.

Niehaus said the state had no case, to begin with.

“And also relieved that this nonsense is over because it was a nonsensical politically motivated trumped up nonsense right from the beginning. And I’m glad that the magistrate was clear about it and threw the case out of court today”.

Niehaus is said that he plans to hold a media conference on Tuesday where he will announce his intention to sue the state for costs incurred.

At 10:00 a.m., Zelensky will join the leaders of the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Japan, and Canada by video link (0800 GMT).

In his daily address late Sunday, Zelensky called for more weapons and air defense systems to be given to Ukraine, as well as more G7 penalties against Russia.

We require a strong air defense system that is both modern and effective. Which can provide comprehensive defense against these missiles. We discuss it with our partners on a daily basis. There are already some agreements in place. And partners must move faster if they are to be considered partners rather than onlookers,” he added.

“Delays in the transfer of weaponry to our state, as well as any restrictions, are an invitation for Russia to strike again and again.”

Zelensky’s appeal came after Russia allegedly struck a residential building in Kyiv, killing one person and injuring four others, including a seven-year-old girl.

Biden called the strikes, the first in nearly three weeks in Ukraine’s capital, “barbarism.” 

German Chancellor and G7 host Olaf Scholz said the attack demonstrated “how important it is to stand together and defend Ukrainians.

Russia, on the other hand, denied hitting a civilian target, claiming that its forces had bombed the nearby Artyom arms factory.

The G7 meeting, which is being hosted at the magnificent Elmau Castle, will continue through Tuesday. It will be followed by a NATO summit in Spain, which Zelensky is also likely to attend.

The European Union demonstrated its support for Kyiv last week by granting it candidate status.