Jacob Zuma's lawyer Dali Mpofu told Judge Bhekisisa Mnguni that the former president would be prejudiced by the sentence – but counsel for the Helen Suzman Foundation and the state capture commission opposed Zuma's application.
Jacob Zuma is also the first president of South Africa ever to be jailed.
Jacob Zuma was expected to be arrested by police on Wednesday to begin his 15-month prison sentence after a scathing Constitutional Court judgment.
An ambulance was prevented from entering former President Jacob Zuma's homestead. His son, Edward instructed the ambulance to leave the premises.
About 70 police vehicles are said to be on the way to Nkandla where Jacob Zuma was expected to be arrested on Wednesday.
Police have until midnight to effect his arrest after he failed to hand himself in on Sunday.
Edward Zuma made the accusation as the nation waited in anticipation to see whether the former president would be arrested or hand himself over to start serving his 15-month jail term for contempt of court.
People wearing ANC MKMVA regalia prevented the police from entering former President Jacob Zuma's homestead in Nkandla.
A small group of people dressed in uMkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) uniform have blocked a police vehicle trying to make its way into former President Jacob Zuma's Nkandla homestead.
The state capture commission’s lawyer Tembeka Ngcukaitobi said a letter seeking clarity by Police Minister Bheki Cele and National Police Commissioner Khehla Sitole to acting Chief Justice Raymond Zondo is nonsensical.
Jacob Zuma approached the court following a scathing apex court judgment that found him guilty of being in a contempt of a ruling that said he must appear and participate at the state capture commission.
Tembeka Ngcukaitobi and Max du Plessis have appealed to Judge Bhekisisa Mnguni to dismiss Zuma's application to stay his 15-month prison term after being guilty of being in contempt of the Constitutional Court.
Tembeka Ngcukaitobi said that Jacob Zuma’s failure to abide by an apex court judgement should be a strong enough grounds for the High Court to dismiss his application.
Dali Mpofu is appearing virtually before Judge Bhekisisa Mnguni in the Pietermaritzburg High Court representing former President Jacob Zuma in his bid to set aside a Constitutional Court ruling that last week sentenced him to 15 months of imprisonment.
Former President Jacob was found guilty of being in contempt of a Constitutional Court ruling that he must appear and participate at the state capture commission.
Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi said that while he was sympathetic to former President Jacob Zuma, challenges to the state and risking lives through illegal mass gatherings were unacceptable.
Law enforcement has been widely criticised for allowing the Nkandla super spreader to go ahead in direct violation of level 4 lockdown restrictions, which ban all gatherings with the aim to curb COVID-19 infections.
Police stationed outside the Kwadakudunuse homestead had their hands full with many of Zuma's supporters not adhering to COVID-19 regulations.
