Deputy President Jacob Zuma is ”fine” amid a chorus of calls for
his resignation since the outcome of the Schabir Shaik fraud and corruption trial, his office said on Monday.
”Life goes on,” said spokesperson Lakela Kaunda in Pretoria.
”The deputy president is fine. We are going to have a normal working day today [Monday].”
Shaik, who acted as Zuma’s financial advisor, was convicted on fraud and corruption charges by the Durban High Court last week.
Judge Hillary Squires found in his judgement that the relationship between Zuma and Shaik was ”generally corrupt”.
This has sparked calls from opposition parties and others for Zuma to quit or to be fired.
Kaunda said there was not really anything new about the furore about the ties between Zuma and Shaik.
”This has now been going on for four years.”
Zuma’s face and name were splashed across most front pages on Sunday morning with questions, statements and opinions reported from professors, law experts, anonymous MPs and government officials.
Comments and speculation in the media have hinted at a possible crisis within the ANC, which was denied in the Sunday Times by presidential spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama.
”As a country, we should avoid being in this mood of excitement and create a crisis where none exists,” he was reported as saying.
The finding that Zuma’s relationship with Durban businessman Schabir Shaik had been corrupt has caused an uproar, with Zuma’s choices being summed up as resignation or dismissal.
The Sunday Independent reported that senior ANC members had started buckling down for a decision that could prove to be a ”double-edged sword” and that whether Zuma went or stayed, divisions will arise in the party.
Presidential spokesperson Bheki Khumalo said he was as much in the dark about Zuma’s future as anyone.
”I have no idea and am not aware of anything,” said Khumalo when he was asked whether Zuma and Mbeki would meet, and whether any crucial decision was being made.
Presidential spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama was also not available for comment on Sunday afternoon.
In his judgement Squires said: ”As Zuma had no shares or interest in any Nkobi company and was in no position to lend any money to help Shaik’s enterprise, the only help he could give … would be the influence and weight of his political office.”
After the guilty verdict, opposition parties called for Zuma’s resignation or dismissal, with Democratic Alliance chief whip Douglas Gibson moving a motion of no confidence in Zuma in the National Assembly on Thursday.
President Thabo Mbeki said on Friday he would only contemplate action on Zuma after the fraud and corruption court case was completed, while Zuma maintained that his conscience was clear as he knew he had not committed a crime or been charged with one.
While the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) will decide whether to prosecute Zuma, media reports said it was expected that Mbeki would withhold comment to allow Zuma to make a public statement.
Asked if Zuma intended to respond to the outcome of the Shaik trial, she said no media briefings had been planned for the day.
Initial reports suggested Zuma might call a news conference during the weekend.
”And none is planned at all for today [Monday]”, said Kaunda.
Zuma was to attend a routine meeting of the national working committee of the African National Congress in Johannesburg on Monday.
”As for the rest of the week, we will send you a diary of his activities later,” Kaunda said. – Sapa