/ 31 March 2009

NPA’s marathon meeting on Zuma enters day two

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) was set to enter a second day of talks on Tuesday about the possibility of dropping graft charges against ANC leader Jacob Zuma, reports said.

NPA bosses were locked in a marathon meeting on Monday to discuss an ”entire basket of information” on Zuma’s case, NPA spokesperson Tlali Tlali said.

Business Day newspaper reported that sources close to the meeting said the NPA was expected to make an announcement at a press conference on Tuesday.

The Star newspaper said the discussions between the NPA’s acting head, Mokotedi Mpshe, Asset Forfeiture Unit boss Willie Hofmeyr and prosecutor Billy Downer were ”difficult”.

South African Broadcasting Corporation radio reported that the meeting was a ”confidential process” which was expected to continue on Tuesday.

The meeting was assessing progress made so far on the information the NPA had received from Zuma’s legal team on the representations they had made in the hopes of having the case against him dropped.

”It is this entire basket of information that must be properly considered. It is our view that it is not in anyone’s interest for this issue to remain unresolved over a lengthy period of time,” Tlali said on Monday.

”The NPA is giving it [the] priority attention it deserves. The urgency that attaches to the process should not be at the expense of procedures that as a matter of law must be followed.

”The NPA will appropriately communicate its decision once there is one in place,” he said.

Zuma is facing fraud and corruption charges related to a multibillion-rand government arms deal.

‘No, Mr Zuma, I will not back off’
Meanwhile, Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille has vowed to persist in her calls for Zuma to be prosecuted.

”No, Mr Zuma, I will not back off,” she said in a campaign speech, prepared for delivery in Paarl in the Western Cape on Monday evening.

Zille was responding to earlier remarks by Zuma, who told an ANC rally at the weekend that ”instead of them being busy canvassing, they [opposition parties] are busy going to court to challenge decisions that don’t exist”.

The DA has said that if the NPA drops the charges, it will consider launching a private prosecution against him.

Zille on Monday said if Zuma did not appear in court, he could not be presumed innocent.

”I find it curious that some people say that I have no business worrying about Jacob Zuma’s corruption trial. They say that I must respect the principle that people are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

”Of course I respect that principle. But if we allow Zuma to escape his day in court as a result of a back-room deal with the National Prosecuting Authority, we will be no closer to knowing whether he is guilty or innocent.

”There will be a cloud hanging over his head and the entire government. Escaping prosecution is not the same thing as acquittal. If he never appears in court he cannot be presumed innocent.”

Zille said Zuma had dragged out the case against him at every opportunity, and was now reportedly blackmailing the NPA to make sure he did not go to court.

”Yesterday, Jacob Zuma told me to ‘back off’. Well, I have news for him: I will never do that. I will continue to hold him and the ANC to account.

”That is my responsibility as the leader of the official opposition and it is my duty as a citizen. The fact of the matter is that Jacob Zuma has a case to answer in court,” she said. – Sapa