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South Africa: Mbeki Beats Trail to Mauritius Just Weeks After Zuma's Visit
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Business Day (Johannesburg)
11 March 2008
Posted to the web 11 March 2008
Hajra Omarjee
Johannesburg
JUST three weeks after African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma flew to Mauritius in a bid to frustrate the state's bid to obtain evidence of corruption against him, President Thabo Mbeki is in that country meeting high-ranking government officials, including members of the judiciary.
While in Mauritius for that country's 40th Independence Day celebrations, Mbeki is to meet its president, prime minister and chief justice to discuss "political and economic matters". Mbeki is the only head of state to attend the celebrations, but officials said Zuma's case was not on agenda.
Mbeki's discussions with the Mauritian chief justice could well add impetus to Zuma's allegations that there is a political conspiracy against him aimed at denting his chances of succeeding Mbeki next year as SA's president.
In court papers, Zuma argues that his legal troubles are the result of political conspiracy. As head of the ruling party, Zuma is first in line to take over when Mbeki steps down next year.
Although the former ANC national executive committee under Mbeki ruled there was no political conspiracy against Zuma, Mbeki's trip to Mauritius and his interactions with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) could fuel allegations of political interference, especially considering that former NPA head Bulelani Ngcuka announced there was prima facie evidence against Zuma after discussing the issue with Mbeki.
Zuma has also emphasised in court papers that his dismissal as SA's deputy president in 2005 came soon after Mbeki's trip to Chile with suspended NPA head Vusi Pikoli.
While Mbeki is in Mauritius, Zuma's lawyers will be fighting allegations against him in the Constitutional Court. Zuma's application -- for an order declaring that search warrants were invalid -- will be heard today. The matter has been set down for two days. It is not clear when judgment will be delivered.
The state's initial corruption case against Zuma was thrown out of the Pietermaritzburg High Court in 2006, because prosecutors failed to provide a complete indictment and were not ready to proceed.
Prosecutors will want the Mauritian documents in hand and the Constitutional Court to rule in favour of the state before Zuma's corruption case starts in August.
Zuma has defended his attempts to stop the state from accessing evidence against him, saying he has a "constitutional right" to defend himself.
Last month, Zuma asked the Mauritian Supreme Court for the right to stop the NPA from obtaining the originals of 13 documents used to convict his financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, of fraud and corruption. During his trip, Zuma also met Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam.
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The Mauritian attorney-general has indicated his office will oppose Zuma's application, and on Friday requested more time to prepare his documentation before the matter went before the court.
The disputed documents (copies of which were used in the case against Shaik) sought by the NPA include a diary in which then Thint representative Alain Thetard recorded a meeting he had with Zuma and Shaik.
The state alleges that at this meeting the three men discussed a R500000-a-year payment for Zuma in return for protection during investigations into SA's arms deal. The papers were seized by the Mauritian Economic Crime Office.
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