President Thabo Mbeki’s decision to sack his deputy, Jacob Zuma, infringed Zuma’s constitutional rights, the Young Communist League said on Tuesday.
”(We) hope that the decision to release the deputy president is not seen as a guilt-verdict based on the Schabir Shaik trial,” said Buti Manamela, a spokesperson for the YCL.
”The YCL restates its support for Deputy President Jacob Zuma, and believe that until due processes of the law have been completed, he remains innocent,” Manamela said.
Zuma was ”crucified” by the media in a political trial started with revelations by the former director of public prosecutions, Bulelani Ngcuka, that he had prima facie evidence against Zuma, said Manamela.
”We are concerned that this decision is followed by a political trial that was conducted by Bulelani Ngcuka who has initiated and concluded the trial of the deputy president, Jacob Zuma, in the media,” he said.
The league however stressed that it condemned corruption and dissociated itself from any corrupt individuals.
Mbeki released Zuma of his duties during a special joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament on Tuesday afternoon.
This came almost two weeks after Zuma was implicated in corruption during the Durban High Court trial of businessman Schabir Shaik, who acted as his financial adviser. – Sapa