Deputy President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday the media have treated him in a ”grossly unfair” way and used the Schabir Shaik trial for political reasons.
Zuma told business and political leaders at a breakfast at the East London City Hall that he has been tried and convicted by the media.
”The manner in which this has been dealt with has been grossly unfair,” Zuma said. ”The media have used this case for political reasons. Every time they talked about the case, they talked about the problem of politics.”
He said he has never been given a chance to answer the charges against him.
Zuma told a journalist who had asked him about Wednesday’s sentencing of Shaik: ”You are just finding an angle to report back to your editor.”
Zuma’s future in politics hangs in the balance following the conviction on fraud and corruption charges of his financial adviser, Durban businessman Schabir Shaik.
The Durban High Court found that Shaik had had a ”generally corrupt” relationship with Zuma. Shaik was on Wednesday sentenced to 15 years in jail.
Shaik’s bail of R100 000 was extended until July 26, when his advocate will apply for leave to appeal against his conviction and sentence.
In August 2003, Bulelani Ngcuka, then head of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), said although the NPA had ”prima facie” evidence against Zuma, he would not be prosecuted, as it would be impossible to win the case.
”In this country, we have a Constitution that [means] every citizen has a right that they must be taken to court, be tried and be heard, and at the end a judgement be made,” Zuma said.
”That chance was never given to me. The judgement was for someone else,” he said.
Zuma said the media have instead conducted a trial.
”As you know, I’ve been avoiding this matter because it has been in court, I felt the media have been very unfair and the media have conducted a trial outside court,” he said.
Zuma is in the Eastern Cape on a two-day imbizo (meeting) aimed at getting opinions on the government’s failures and successes from ordinary citizens.
Dressed in a black polo-neck sweater, black pants and a black jacket, he was greeted outside the City Hall by a group of supporters singing and waving the African National Congress flag.
Zuma waved back, before being pushed into a gold Mercedes by a security guard.
Clifford Leeuw, a member of the Eastern Cape South African Council of Churches, said the group is praying for Zuma.
”We are praying for you at this time and we are praying for the government,” Leeuw said.
”We hope you carry on the fight against corruption. We support you, we love you and we pray God will be with you.”
Zuma was due to fly by helicopter to meet a local king and then visit the Keiskammahoek dairy project.
Zuma is accompanied by Minister of Housing Lindiwe Sisulu and Eastern Cape Premier Nosimo Balindlela.
The deputy president also spoke about the moral regeneration campaign, which he heads.
”It is very important to regenerate our morals and values,” he said. ”We have initiated a process to develop a moral charter … this is an ongoing process and is being driven from below.”
Job protesters support Zuma
Meanwhile, hundreds of youths, participating in a protest against unemployment on Thursday, called for Zuma to become the country’s next president.
”Zuma for president,” the crowd sang loudly in Zulu at Beyers Naude Square in central Johannesburg.
Many of them carried posters saying ”Let Zuma be free”, ”He is innocent in the face of the African,” ”Opportunism against Zuma, my president,” ”Why not Zuma? Tell us why!” and ”100% JZ”.
Others wore T-shirts saying ”Innocent until proven guilty”.
The youngsters, mostly members of the ANC Youth League, were marching to highlight the plight of the unemployed.
”Sixty percent of this country are young people. The majority of them are qualified but not working,” said Nthabiseng Kotso (24).
She called on the private sector to open its doors and give the youth training for jobs.
Another marcher, Mxolisi Msimang (21), said he hopes the march will bring him employment.
”I matriculated in 2003. I have also done some computer courses. But since 2003, I have been unemployed.
”I hope this [march] will bring employment opportunities.”
The protesters, some of them holding posters saying, ”Create more jobs”, ”No to unemployment”, and ”Where are you, private sector?”, were expected to end their march at the Chamber of Mines’ offices in downtown Johannesburg. — Sapa