Opposition parties have called for African National Congress (ANC) leader Jacob Zuma to have his day in court as soon as possible following Monday’s Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruling that hit out at an earlier judgement in his favour.
Zuma, who nevertheless remains the ANC presidential candidate, may again face charges of racketeering, money laundering, corruption and fraud related to the government’s multibillion-rand arms deal.
The SCA said in its judgement that Pietermaritzburg High Court Judge Chris Nicholson made several errors in a September 12 2008 ruling.
Neither Zuma nor his lawyers were present in court.
”The NPA [National Prosecuting Authority] must immediately dismiss speculation that it is willing to drop the charges against Zuma and broker a special deal for him,” said Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille.
Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille agreed: ”The NPA must now proceed with instituting corruption charges against Jacob Zuma so that he may have his day in court as soon as possible.”
The United Democratic Movement urged Zuma to stop ”endless legal delaying tactics”.
The South African Communist Party said it was convinced that the ”persecution” of Zuma was a ”politically inspired affair”.
”Cosatu remains convinced that the whole prosecution process has been politically motivated and will continue to demand the dropping of all charges,” added the Congress of South African Trade Unions.
Major political consequences
The Congress of the People (Cope) welcomed the SCA’s ruling, saying: ”It is our view that the Judge Nicholson judgement had major political consequences for the country. What was tragic was the opportunistic way the ruling African National Congress leadership abused it to settle its internal political battles.”
It added that the corruption and fraud case against Zuma should proceed to trial without delay so that the ANC president could have his say in court.
”We accept it [the ruling] as a true reflection of an independent judiciary,” Cope’s national youth convenor Anele Mda said. ”This is a victory for the people of South Africa.”
Echoing these sentiments, the Inkatha Freedom Party said the Zuma judgement was ”one of great historic and legal importance”.
”Some important accusations, impressions and confusion have been cleared up — especially concerning the integrity of persons such as former president Thabo Mbeki, Dr Penual Maduna and Mr Bulelani Ngcuka,” said Koos van der Merwe, IFP chief whip and spokesperson on justice.
”The IFP believes that the law must take its course to afford Mr Zuma his day in court.”
‘Continuation of the political agenda’
Meanwhile, after the ruling, ANC national executive committee member Mathole Motshekga told several hundred Zuma supporters outside the court that the ANC leader was ”not facing any legal trial”.
”It is a political case. It remains a political case. It is a continuation of the political agenda we and our alliance complained about,” he said to loud cheers.
He dismissed the SCA decision which, ”with the greatest respect, was wrong”, as mere rivalry between legal minds.
”We are dealing with the interpretation of the law by two different judges who obviously hold two different approaches of interpretations,” he said. — Sapa