WARNING: This is Version 1 of my old archive, so Photos will NOT work and many links will NOT work. But you can find articles by searching on the Titles. There is a lot of information in this archive. Use the SEARCH BAR at the top right. Prior to December 2012; I was a pro-Christian type of Conservative. I was unaware of the mass of Jewish lies in history, especially the lies regarding WW2 and Hitler. So in here you will find pro-Jewish and pro-Israel material. I was definitely WRONG about the Boeremag and Janusz Walus. They were for real.
Original Post Date: 2005-06-21 Time: 00:00:00 Posted By: Jan
[I would be most surprised if Zuma actually survived his coming trial and was able to prove his innocence. But, it will be interesting, not only watching the trial, but more importantly, what comes after it. What I would like to see, is if Zuma comes out with dirt on other people in the ANC. No doubt he will have to play this carefully. But when a man has his back to the wall… it will be interesting to see how he defends himself both during and after the trial – and what political flak comes of it. Jan]
Former deputy president Jacob Zuma has welcomed the National Prosecuting Authority”s (NPA) decision to charge him on two counts of corruption.
Said Zuma in a statement: “I welcome this decision as it affords me an opportunity to respond to, and clarify the allegations that have been made against me over a period of time.”
Briefing the media in Pretoria on Monday, NPA spokesperson Makhosini Nkosi said NPA head Vusi Pikoli had informed Zuma that he had decided to bring criminal charges “against his person”.
“Such charges will be constituted by, among others, two counts of corruption.
“Mr Zuma will in due course be informed of the date, time and place where he will have to avail himself at court to face these charges.”
Zuma would not be physically arrested but would be ordered to appear in court later this week in Durban, he said.
The presidency said in a statement Pikoli had informed president Thabo Mbeki of the development.
“The president hopes that all South Africans will allow the law to take its course,” the presidency said.
The ANC National Working Committee said it had accepted Zuma”s request to “withdraw his participation from all ANC structures pending the completion of the legal process.”
Zuma would however remain ANC deputy president.
Political parties also welcomed the NPA”s decision.
Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon said the NPA”s decision was in line with the judgement handed down by Justice Hilary Squires in the Schabir Shaik trial, as well as with President Thabo Mbeki”s decision to remove Zuma from office.
“Politically this decision is deeply significant, as it will effectively mean that Mr Zuma may now be incapable of playing any major political leadership role due to the various legal processes that will now be set in motion.
“Since Jacob Zuma has consistently maintained and demanded his day in court, we trust he will welcome the NPA”s decision, as his wish has now been granted,” Leon said.
Squires found there was a “generally corrupt” relationship between Zuma and Shaik, his former financial advisor.
Approached for comment on the NPA decision, Shaik declined. “No comment,” he told Sapa politely by telephone.
ANC Youth League spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said the NPA”s decision was what Zuma had wanted all along.
“This will give Zuma the opportunity to explain his side of the story.”
He said Zuma had been found guilty by the media and the public, but through the law he was still innocent, and the “impartial courts” would give Zuma the opportunity he deserved.
“[We and] the deputy president have been crying for three years now for this opportunity in court,” Kodwa said.
The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) also welcomed Zuma being given an opportunity to defend himself in court, but warned against appointing a judge from a “controversial” background.
“We hope that in appointing a judge, the authorities will be sensitive to some of the issues raised during the Shaik trial and not select a judge with a controversial background,” it said.
United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa said Zuma should now be “the happiest man on earth. This will give him the opportunity to prove his innocence”.
The courts held the last word on Zuma”s future, “and hopefully the NPA”s decision will help his supporters shut their mouths and wait for [the] outcome of the courts”.
The decision by the NPA sent a strong and unequivocal message to all people: in South Africa “nobody is above the law”, Holomisa said.
The SA Communist Party said while it was obviously saddened at this turn of events, “we believe that this step is now both logical and necessary”.
“We trust that a court trial will shed light and bring finality to this matter.
“Comrade Zuma has consistently said that he wanted his own day in court. We trust that the NPA will now move expeditiously and fairly, and that a credible judicial process takes place,” the SACP said.
The Independent Democrats said it had faith in the judiciary and the belief that if there was sufficient evidence against Zuma the NPA would proceed by bringing him to trial.
“We believe wholeheartedly in the rule of law and are quite certain that Mr Zuma will receive a fair trial regardless of the senior position he held in government,” the ID said.
African Christian Democratic Party MP and justice spokesperson Steve Swart said any other decision made on the matter would have flown in the face of the government in its commitment to fight corruption and fraud.
“The South African public requires an explanation from the former deputy president in view of the findings against him made by Judge Hilary Squires in the Schabir Shaik trial that Shaik and Zuma had a “generally corrupt” relationship,” he said.
Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Mulder agreed the decision would give Zuma an opportunity to state his side of the issue.
“It would have been an untenable situation for Mr Zuma and the country as a whole if he had not been prosecuted,” Mulder said. – Sapa
Source: Daily Mail & Guardian
URL: http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articlei…/p>