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South Africa: UCT Registrar Denies Support for Zuma
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Cape Argus (Cape Town)
18 July 2008
Posted to the web 18 July 2008
Asa Sokopo
Paul Ngobeni, the embattled deputy registrar at UCT, has denied coming out in support of ANC President Jacob Zuma and Cape Judge President John Hlophe, saying instead that he was only supporting the country's constitution.
In the past week, Ngobeni has appeared on SABC television and been quoted in the media defending the two men.
Last month, Ngobeni wrote an open letter to Chief Justice Pius Langa and several Constitutional Court judges, stating that the procedure followed by the judges to tackle a complaint against Judge Hlophe was tainted.
Two judges had alleged that Judge Hlophe had tried to unduly influence them in Zuma's corruption trial.
Ngobeni said in the letter: "Simply put, your collective complaint is not only procedurally flawed or invalid, it is based on double hearsay and a violation of the values that underpin our constitution."
Reports earlier this month said a panel of legal and academic experts was trying to free Zuma from his impending trial. Ngobeni is part of that team.
Earlier this year, Ngobeni wrote in defence of Zuma, arguing that Zuma's trial was politically motivated and giving tips on his defence.
In a strongly worded e-mail to the Cape Argus this week, after being asked about his support for Zuma and Judge Hlophe, he said: "No, I have not supported either Zuma or Hlophe as such, I have supported the constitution of South Africa."
Ngobeni maintains his innocence on pending forgery and theft cases against him in US state of Connecticut.
Last month he said there was still a charge pending and there were "cases destined to be dismissed", but he declined to elaborate.
According to the website Politicsweb, Ngobeni faces three charges of larceny (fraud) and forgery. One charge, of unauthorised practise of law, was dismissed last year.
He was also barred from practising law in Connecticut after a string of complaints from clients. However, UCT said in a statement that Ngobeni had succeeded in having this disbarment set aside and had then resigned his membership of the Connecticut Bar.
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In his e-mail this week, Ngobeni said: "I am still a member of the Bar of both New York and Massachusetts."
If this is true and I think it is "SANITY PREVAILS" in this country and I thought it was iretrievable,A glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel.
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