John Allen
12 January 2009
Cape Town — South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal has opened the way for prosecutors to reinstitute corruption charges against Jacob Zuma, the man selected by the ruling African National Congress (ANC) as the next president of the country.
In a ruling handed down on Monday, the court upheld an appeal by prosecutors against a lower court ruling which declared invalid on procedural grounds a decision to prosecute Zuma.
In overturning the ruling, the appeal court also rejected reasoning by the lower court judge which precipitated the dismissal of former president Thabo Mbeki last September. Referring to suggestions by the judge that there had been a political conspiracy against Zuma, the appellate judges said he had overstepped his authority by making findings unsupported by evidence.
However, the appeal judgment did not concern the legality of the ANC's decision to call on Mbeki to step down, nor of his resignation. It thus does not affect the position of President Kgalema Motlanthe, nominated by the ANC to fill Mbeki's position as president of South Africa until national elections expected in April this year.
But the judgment is likely to focus attention during the coming election campaign on the ANC's choice of a leader facing allegations of corruption as its presidential candidate. The issue was cited by ANC leaders who broke away to form a new party as a key consideration in their actions, and the ANC confirmed within minutes of the delivery of Monday's judgment that Zuma remained their choice as president.
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let jz face the music. anyway if he is innocent the trial will boost his image.the anc should recluse jz from taking part in party affairs till he is proven innocent otherwise by retaining him as their candidate for the April elections they are doing themselves a disservice. no wise person would vote 4 someone who doesn't have a clear future. the decision by anc 2 stick with zuma shows the growing man worshiping cult in south african politics. this will not do the nation any good . the same has happened in zim now bob wont move out of… [Read Full Text]
You make no sense! Africans should continue to embrace Zuma. What they should not embrace is any ruling from the aparthied in-justice system, which is still dominated by the criminal invaders. The real criminals in South Africa are the invaders from Europe, who continue to monopolize and control African Lands, Wealth & Resources. And the criminal invaders are playing Africans against Africans, even as they continue to live in the splendor of African loot and Africans live in squalor in THEIR OWN indigenous space! Africa for Africans!
I am deeply upset and disappointed at your reaction. I am black and African to use the so called African term. It is time for Africa and indeed south africa to wake and move beyond these name calling and disgused reverse racism. What is white injustice in a black man ruling south africa in the past eight years and not delivering any concrete change in the quality of life of its peopel? what does white man's injustice have to do with sleeping around and been promiscous? what has white injustice got to do with tribalism and nepotism creeping into ANC… [Read Full Text]
It's the old evil European 'divide and dominate' game! These effort of the criminal invaders from Europe is to create instability in the ANC. Unfortunately Zuma was too quick to react at the first ruling. And Mbeki shouldn't have shown regard for the white in-justice system by appealing. Mbeki's appeal should be to HIS FELLOW MEMBERS of ANC.
Africans SHOULD NOT allow the devilish 'divide and rule' in-justice system of the criminal invaders to decide on African fate.
Zuma should forge ahead whatever the eurocentric court decides.
The in-justiuce system in South African needs to be abandoned in… [Read Full Text]
You surprise me with this kind of language which is typical of President Mugabe.
Active Discussions: Prosecutors Win Appeal on Zuma Case