The South African Cabinet has urged members of the media to respect the dignity of the office of Deputy President Jacob Zuma ”and not (to) impugn his integrity on the basis of allegations not proven in a court of law”.
In a statement read by government spokesperson Joel Netshitenzhe in Pretoria — and beamed to Cape Town’s Tuynhuys briefing room on Wednesday — it noted what it described as ”reports in the media regarding the oncoming trial pertaining to a secondary contract in the arms procurement process”.
Business Day reported on Wednesday that the Scorpions took the highly unusual step on Tuesday of releasing the final indictment in the trial of Durban businessman Schabir Shaik, which it reported ”persists in linking Deputy President Jacob Zuma to acts of corruption”.
The indictment says: ”Accused 1 (Shaik) and/or the corporate accused have benefited Zuma in the period October 1, 1995 to September 30, 2002 in the amount of 1,340,078,01 rand.”
The trial begins on Monday. The deputy president has strenuously and repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
Netshitenzhe noted the Cabinet as saying: ”With regard to matters relating to the deputy president in particular, government has noted his public response to the allegations, and takes him at his word.
”It is hoped that the media will respect the dignity of the office of the deputy president — and judicial institutions — and not impugn his integrity on the basis of allegations not proven in a court of law.”
The indictment painted a picture of a businessman — Shaik — who used his political connection with Zuma to form relationships and secure introductions and who later facilitated payments as a consequence of those introductions.
The indictment did not focus in any detail on a meeting between representatives of arms company Thales — now Thint — on March 11, 2000. – I-Net Bridge