The Jacob Zuma court case remains as divisive as ever. The African National Congress president and French arms company Thint on Thursday lost their appeal to stop seized evidence being used them in a corruption trial.
Separately, Zuma is expected to apply to the court on August 4 to have the case against him reviewed.
Nine of the 10 judges of the Constitutional Court said warrants used in raids on Zuma and his lawyer were valid and the state could use seized documents in its prosecution of Zuma.
In a unanimous decision, the court also cleared the way for the use of a diary and other documents from Mauritius in the same trial — another blow to Zuma, who tried to block prosecutors from obtaining the documents.
South African Communist Party secretary general Blade Nzimande said “the whole Hlophe matter” had prepared them for this outcome. “Irrespective of whatever is happening, he [Zuma] is going to be the president of the republic,” he said.
The Democratic Alliance believed the ruling showed the highest court could act without fear or favour and that a major obstacle to Zuma facing justice had been removed. “If Zuma is indeed innocent, they have nothing to be concerned about because they can have faith in the independence and impartiality of the judiciary,” said party leader Helen Zille.
While the case must be allowed to run its course, every day that it is delayed provides further ammunition to Zuma supporters who say he is the victim of a political plot.
His trial has been hanging over all our heads for too long. Hasten the day of the court case.
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Trevor Manuel
The world’s longest-serving finance minister has received the prestigious Woodrow Wilson award for public service. He remains one of the most likeable, respectable and efficient current Cabinet members — if only some of his colleagues would follow his example. |
 Jon Qwelane
The press ombudsman says the Sunday Sun contravened the press code in publishing Qwelane’s recent anti-gay rant; the South African Human Rights Commission has received a record number of complaints against an individual, and is yet to announce whether it will take action — but it’s clear Qwelane’s words won’t be tolerated. |
Most-read stories
July 24 to 30
1. Zuma: I didn’t know there were poor whites
Poverty is one of the biggest challenges facing the majority of South Africans and it does not discriminate according to racial lines, African National Congress president Jacob Zuma said on Thursday.
2. Kebble: Shocking new claims
Police bungled their investigation of Brett Kebble’s murder so badly that former judge Willem Heath suspected they had “deliberately stalled and attempted to sabotage” it, Heath concluded after a probe on behalf of the Kebble family.
3. ‘More people returning to SA than leaving’
When South African native Nicky Prins lived in London, there was one television advertisement that always touched her heart.
4. Zimbabwe crisis talks stall
Power-sharing talks between Zimbabwe’s opposition and negotiators for President Robert Mugabe have broken off, officials said on Monday. One said the main sticking point was Mugabe’s insistence that he be president of any new government.
5. The manual for despots
Robert Gabriel Mugabe and Morgan Richard Tsvangirai held hands. Mugabe tried to lift Tsvangirai’s hand above the shoulder, to join it in his in a triumphant double fist, a gesture reminiscent of the moment he held up Joshua Nkomo’s hand and with that gesture killed opposition politics in Zimbabwe for a long 12 years.
6. Qwelane tramples on Constitution
As if it wasn’t busy enough trying to cajole apologies out of Julius Malema and Zwelinzima Vavi for their “kill for Zuma” remarks, the South African Human Rights Commission this week had to deal with complaints about Sunday Sun columnist Jon Qwelane’s attack on gay South Africans — and the Constitution.
7. Zim talks ‘break off’, officials claim
Officials close to the Zimbabwe power-sharing talks say negotiations in South Africa have broken off.
8. Prospects dim for Zim peace deal
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s ruling party will not accept a power-sharing deal that fails to recognise his re-election or seeks to reverse his land reform programme, a state-owned newspaper said on Friday.
9. Malema: Zuma ‘would lead us from prison’
African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma would lead the organisation from prison if he was ever arrested, ANC Youth League president Julius Malema said on Wednesday.
10. Zimbabwe talks ‘adjourned’, not broken off
Claims that power-sharing talks between Zimbabwe’s opposition and negotiators for President Robert Mugabe had broken off were called into question on Tuesday.