/ 1 January 2002

SA deputy-president to testify at fraud trial

Deputy President Jacob Zuma has been subpoenaed to testify at the corruption trial of former Mpumalanga government adviser Pieter Rootman, the presidency confirmed on Sunday.

”I can confirm that,” said Zuma’s representative Zanele Mngadi. Asked when Zuma would appear in court, she said: ”That matter is being handled by his legal advisers. I can’t comment further than that.”

Rootman, who was the special adviser to former Mpumalanga premier Mathews Phosa, was arrested at his Faerie Glen home in Pretoria in March last year. He is accused of paying R600 000 in donor money into his own account during the time he was Phosa’s advisor.

The money allegedly came from R1,1-million donated by the Ingwe Coal Mine to the Mpumalanga government for capacity building, and was allegedly deposited into Rootman’s personal account between July 1997 and November 1998.

Zuma would reportedly be required to shed light on two secret meetings he held with Rootman in Pretoria between February 8 and July 31, 2001. In March 1998, Rootman allegedly used the stolen donor funds to settle Zuma’s house bond. But the presidency has denied the allegations.

Phosa initially appointed Rootman in May 1994 as the province’s director-general. He became Phosa’s adviser in July 1995. Rootman, who is out on bail, is expected to appear in the Nelspruit Regional Court on Monday. – Sapa