Constitutional Court to rule on Zuma warrants

The long-awaited Constitutional Court judgement on searches relating to the corruption investigation against African National Congress president Jacob Zuma and arms company Thint will be handed down on Thursday, the court said.

In March, Zuma and Thint asked the court to rule that the warrants that authorised the searches of Zuma’s offices and home, as well as the offices of his lawyers and Thint, were invalid, and that a letter of request to Mauritian authorities for original documents the state required should not have been issued.

This followed an unsuccessful approach to the Supreme Court of Appeal, so they approached the Constitutional Court

They argued that the warrants were too broad and were an invasion of privacy, and allowing the letter of request threatened their right to a fair trial.

Zuma and Thint are due in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on August 4 to apply for the investigation against them to be reviewed on the grounds that it violates their constitutional rights.

While working on the judgement, the court in May complained to the Judicial Service Commission that Cape Judge President John Hlophe had allegedly approached two judges to try to influence the outcome of the case.

Hlophe has in turn accused the Constitutional Court of not following procedure on the matter and has also reportedly approached the Johannesburg High Court asking for a declaratory order that the Constitutional Court violated his rights.

Zuma faces 16 charges, including fraud and money-laundering charges, and the two Thint companies face charges including fraud and money-laundering charges.

The case emanates from the fraud and corruption conviction of Zuma’s former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, who was found by the Durban High Court to have facilitated payments to Zuma from the arms company in exchange for protection during arms-deal probes.

On Tuesday, Zuma said that his trial on corruption charges will not damage the African National Congress (ANC).

“The trial will not affect the ANC at all.

If there are charges that the state thinks need to be answered, no citizen can refuse. If there are charges, I’m more than ready to defend myself and prove my innocence,” he told reporters at the start of a two-day official visit to Mozambique.—Sapa