Former deputy president Jacob Zuma on Monday morning told supporters he would be back in court on March 6.
He was addressing a crowd of supporters outside the Johannesburg High Court where Judge Ezra Goldstein had postponed proceedings to give the defence more time to prepare for Zuma’s rape trial.
”My lawyers received more documents yesterday [Monday], they requested the court to adjourn so that they can study them,” Zuma said.
The crowd answered: ”We will be there!”.
He added that the number of state witnesses have also increased, but gave no numbers. The crowd booed the news. Zuma also called on his followers to vote in next month’s local government elections, saying that not doing so would weaken the African National Congress.
”We must not blame the organisation because of a few individuals,” he said.
Zuma left shortly afterwards, but not before giving in to crowd pressure to sing his signature tune, Lethu Mshini Wami(Give me my gun).
Supporters earlier sang and carried placards backing the former deputy president.
”Nelson Mandela tell Mbeki to release Zuma so that he can rule the country,” they chanted.
Their posters read: ”[Bulelani] Ngcuka and friends are saying Zuma is a Zulu boy. Have you forgotten that Chief Albert Luthuli was also a Zulu boy?”
”Former ANC leaders are turning in their graves because you [Ngcuka] and friends are dividing the country.”
Others read: ”Hamba [leave] Mbeki hamba”.
”Why did mister Ngcuka call the media to the off-the-record briefing? The purpose was to gossip and assassinate the character of our leader [Zuma],” other posters read.
More than 100 bystanders were watching the protesters, whose number had grown rapidly since 9am.
Another poster read: ”SAPS prepare for civil war”.
SA Prisoners Organisation for Human Rights president Golden Miles Budhu joined the protesters who enthusiastically welcomed him.
He carried a placard reading: ”Why was Zuma raped?”
As on Monday, he was dressed in prison garb and wearing chains.
Zuma’s advocate, Kemp J Kemp, SC, said the postponement was at the request of the defence, which needed time to digest documents received from the prosecution on Monday morning.
Kemp said the defence would not ask for further postponements.
It was not immediately clear late on Tuesday morning who would preside over the trial when it resumes.
On Tuesday, it was not known if Deputy Judge President Jerry Shongwe, who heads the Pretoria High Court, would take over from Transvaal Judge President Bernard Ngoepe who on Monday recused himself.
However, The Star newspaper on Tuesday reported the defence might also ask Shongwe to step aside.
The newspaper, quoting unnamed sources, said the defence had ”difficulties” with Shongwe — apparently because of unspecified personal reasons and the fact that Shongwe had been involved in a Zuma matter relating to his upcoming corruption trial.
News24 reported that Shongwe in 2003 scrapped an urgent application by Zuma to obtain information about the investigation that led to him being charged with corruption, and ordered him to pay the state’s legal costs.
Ngoepe said on Monday the other Deputy Judge President, Phineas Mojapelo, who heads the Johannesburg High Court, was not available because of personal circumstances. – Sapa