ANC Youth League condemns case against Zuma
African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma’s rights to a fair and speedy trial have been violated with impunity, and the independence and credibility of organs of state have been severely compromised, the ANC Youth League said on Wednesday.
The league says the confusion around Zuma’s trail date vindicates its view that the case is nothing else but a political agenda—aimed at tarnishing Zuma’s image, integrity, persona and bona fides.
“One of the fundamental principles of our jurisprudence is that justice delayed is justice denied; obviously in this case, this important principle has not been upheld.
“The National Prosecuting Authority [NPA] should do an honourable thing [and] tell the South African public of the reasons why they charged Zuma in the first place, for a case that they have failed to present before a competent court in more that seven years,” the league said.
It has been reported that KwaZulu-Natal Judge President Vuka Tshabalala had taken the province’s deputy director of public prosecutions (advocate Anton Steynberg) “to task” for failing to inform him of the August 4 trial date set out in the indictment—filed at the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
Asked if he had, Tshabalala said: “Absolutely not.
Legal teams for Jacob Zuma and his co-accused are to meet with the NPA and Tshabalala on Thursday to finalise a court date.—Sapa
