ANCYL: We are not calling for Zuma's reinstatement

The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) is not calling for Jacob Zuma to be reinstated as the country’s deputy president, ANCYL said on Wednesday.

“We are not making any calls for President Thabo Mbeki to reinstate Zuma,” said league president Fikile Mbalula.

Mbalula was briefing the media on the ANCYL’s view of the implications of the judgement given by Judge Qedusizi Herbert Msimang on the state’s application for the postponement of Zuma’s corruption trial in Pietermaritzburg.

Msimang declined the state’s request, and instead struck the case off the high court roll last Wednesday.

Mbalula said the league welcomed Mbeki’s decision in June 2005 to release Zuma from his duties as deputy president, “and we still stand by that”.

“No one is entitled to become president or deputy president. The ANC decides.

President Mbeki exercised his prerogative and it’s up to him to decide on Zuma’s reinstatement.”

He said the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) should be investigated by the Public Protector.

“The NPA’s conduct in this case leaves much to be desired. They violated Zuma’s constitutional right to be presumed innocent until proven otherwise and abused their power to tarnish his image.”—Sapa