Zuma to have his day in the dock
But court showing expected to last only a few minutes
FORMER president Jacob Zuma will finally have his day in court today, exactly nine years after former acting national director of public prosecutions Mokotedi Mpshe decided to drop racketeering and corruption charges against him.
While the country’s eyes will be on the Durban High Court, today’s proceedings will simply be a formality and it is expected to only last a few minutes.
Zuma’s lawyer, Michael Hulley, indicated that they would ask for a postponement pending a review application which Zuma is set to lodge any day now, as well as an application brought by the DA regarding his legal fees.
The fact that Zuma will stand in the accused box in courtroom A is a significant victory for those who have fought for the charges to be reinstated against him.
But the review application, when lodged, could drag out his criminal trial, especially if the court rules against him.
This could result in appeal proceedings and the matter may even end up in the Constitutional Court.
The Zuma camp wants the court to review the decision taken by National Prosecuting Authority boss Shaun Abrahams to reinstate the charges against him.
Zuma was not happy with the reasons given to him by Abrahams.
He also wants clarity regarding who will foot his legal bill.
The DA, in the application which they launched last month in the Pretoria High Court, will ask for an order declaring that the State is not liable for the legal costs incurred by Zuma in his personal capacity in his bid to avoid criminal prosecution.
They will further ask the court that Zuma should be directed to repay the National Treasury all amounts which the state has paid up to now towards his personal legal costs.
No date has yet been set for these proceedings in Pretoria.
While this fight, as well as Zuma’s review proceedings, is set to delay his criminal trial, the former president has no choice but to appear in court in person today after he was formally summonsed to do so. He is facing 16 charges, which include 12 counts of fraud, one count of racketeering and two counts of corruption. The charges relate to the controversial arms deal.
There will be tight security at court today, with the office of Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng monitoring the number of people who may enter the courtroom. As there are only 40 seats available, those who wanted to see Zuma in the dock for themselves had to apply for accreditation.
What isn’t sure yet is which judge will preside over Zuma’s trial. Judge Themba Sishi will handle today’s proceedings.