AND THE PLOT THICKENS....
so as we all know, zuma's charges were dropped as the NPA didnt have enuff evidence to put together a formal indictment. wow! how the hell did this happen
Former South African deputy president Jacob Zuma's corruption case was struck off the roll by the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Wednesday.
Judge Herbert Msimang had also dismissed the state's application for a postponement of the case.
Delivering judgment Msimang said that Zuma must be treated the same as any other person, irrespective of his position in the country.
"His standing in the community will not alter his position in the eyes of the law," he said.
Zuma told thousands of people lining the streets surrounding the court building hoping for a glimpse of the former deputy president: "You showed that you know what democracy, constitution, judiciary and the law is."
He said the media had sentenced him even before the judge had handed down judgment.
"The media asked, 'What is Zuma hiding?'," Zuma said, pausing while the crowd booed the journalists a**embled outside the court and continuing: "... Not all of them".
"They asked me what the charges are instead of asking the State. They had already sentenced me."
He said the whole world now knows that South Africans cannot be taken for granted.
"I said I was innocent, I am still saying I am innocent, I will repeat it tomorrow. I can say anything I like because there is no sub judice now."
Zuma was accused of accepting a 500,000 rand (about 68,500 U.S. dollars) a year bribe from two Thint companies -- subsidiaries of the French arms manufacturer Thales International. This emanated from the fraud and corruption trial of his former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik.
Judge Herbert Msimang said in his judgment that it was evident that neither the State nor the defense were ready to proceed, and said Zuma had suffered prejudice from the publicity a**ociated with the trial.
"The problem with this type of prejudice is that it closely resembles the punishment that should only be given to a convicted person."
He said the state had "limped from one disaster to another" and should have investigated further before charging Zuma.
The State had also failed to take into account the legal challenges to the search-and-seizure raids on premises of Zuma and his legal advisers.
He pointed out that the prosecution's case was dependent on the outcome of the appeals against these raids.
He said the state's decision to prosecute was anchored on unsound principles and ill-advised decisions and it was "taking chances that the trial court would come to their rescue to admit such evidence."
Msimang said: "There were clear judicial guidelines available to the State to inform their decisions. There was no reason for them to take chances."
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said it was disappointed by the judgment and National Director of Public Prosecutions Vusi Pikoli would study it to decide what to do.
"The NPA is obviously disappointed with this decision but... it does not detract from the strength of the State's case or the ability of the NPA to bring the matter to trial when the various issues delaying the trial have been resolved," said NPA spokesman Makhosini Nkosi.
Earlier, Nkosi had said that having the matter being struck from the roll meant the state could take its time in investigating further.
In high spirits, Zuma was joined by KwaZulu-Natal premier S'bu Ndebele, African National Congress secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe and Don Mkhwanazi, chairman of the Friends of Jacob Zuma Trust, which has been drumming up support for him.
ANC spokesman Smuts Ngonyama told Sapa: "The ANC accepts this ruling. We believe that due process has taken its course and we therefore accept the ruling."
The opposition Democratic Alliance said: "It is a temporary reprieve rather than absolution."
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union said: " The court's ruling on the matter confirms our long-held belief that JZ (Zuma) has been a victim of a sustained political conspiracy."
Source: Xinhua
politics are very interesting. do u think zuma is innocent? personally i do believe in the whole innocent till proven guilty premise, but i also do believe that where there is smoke there is fire. besides court case aside, zuma has shown us again and again that he does not necessarily have the values and the character needed to be a state president.(i mean, all his beliefs about sexual matters specifically pertinent to our country rite now) he may have strong gra**roots support, but will it translate into votes...votes that count. is this really some conspiracy to sideline his walk towards the presidency, or just skeletons from his past coming bck to haunt him. do you think he will be recharged. i think that the NPA must do a thorough investigation, then recharge him, go to court with proper evidence, stop asking for postponements, and let the judge decide, so that there can be a final verdict, and we can move on to more important matters like health, housing, employment, education etc cos this is becuming a serious waste of time.
