Trying to find a political solution to former president Jacob Zuma's defiance of the Constitutional Court undermines the principle of equality before the law.

This is according to African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee member Mondli Gungubele, who said Zuma's disregard for the Constitution was a "recipe for pandemonium".

"There can't be one law for him and one law for others. The law equalises. Not everyone likes to go to court, not everyone likes to go to a commission of inquiry, but we all go there when we are subjected to it. Equality before the law is sacrosanct," he told News24.

The ANC's top six met with Zuma on Monday in a marathon virtual meeting, where he maintained his defiance of the Zondo commission as well as an order of the apex court that he should comply and answer questions at the commission.

ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule said the meeting resolved to let Zuma handle the matter with his legal team.

The former president is now facing a possible two-year jail term for his open defiance.

At the meeting with the top six, Zuma maintained that he is a victim of bias.

Gungubele said he was cautious about the outcome of the meeting. He said if the party wanted to resolve a legal matter politically, "it's the end of the country". 

Disaster

"Any nation that waivers the centrality of its laws must fold. It is a recipe for pandemonium... a call for disaster," he said. 

Gungubele said it is the ANC's position that there must be cooperation with the Zondo commission and with the law. 

He said the party cannot be seen to fall apart for implementing its own resolutions. 

On Monday evening, Magashule said the ANC would give Zuma "space", and that his "rights" should be protected. 

Following the meeting with the top six, where Zuma again claimed victimhood, he met with his legal team on the way forward. 

News24 reported that Zuma on Monday missed his Constitutional Court deadline to file a response to the commission's contempt application, which could see him facing jail time.

It is a strong indication that he will not oppose the historic case.

The Zondo commission wants the Constitutional Court to order law enforcement authorities to "take all steps as may be required to give effect" to any order given by the court for Zuma's arrest and detention for contempt.

The police and Hawks have not filed any notice to oppose that application.

Zuma stands accused of repeatedly defying the inquiry summons issued against him, walking out of the commission on 19 November, and making false claims of corruption against the judiciary.