Zuma’s quick in and out
‘Defence is not ready to proceed’
FORMER president Jacob Zuma’s much anticipated day in court has been postponed yet again.
Deputy Judge President Mjabuliseni Madondo adjourned the matter to July 27, but it will be heard in the Pietermaritzburg High Court due to renovations that will be undertaken at the Durban High Court.
Judge Madondo said the adjournment was necessary because the State needed time to study representations made by Thales, the French arms company that has been charged with Zuma.
Time was also needed to get clarity on who would pay the former president’s legal bill.
Zuma faces one count of racketeering, two counts of corruption, one count of money laundering and 12 counts of fraud relating to 783 payments he allegedly received in connection with the controversial arms deal.
Billy Downer, the State advocate, said the State was ready to proceed with the trial but Zuma’s team was not.
Downer told Madondo that he had reached an agreement with Zuma’s lawyer Michael Hulley. Both believed that the time between now and the adjournment was sufficient for them to gain clarity on their funding.
“By the next date in court, (Hulley) hopes he will know about his funding. They are still waiting for clarity from the Presidency,” Downer said.
Zuma appeared jovial as he walked to the dock and raised his hand to acknowledge his supporters who were seated in the gallery. As he sat in the dock, there was none of the nervousness that was evident from his first appearance.
The state is funding Zuma’s legal costs but this could change depending on the outcome of a matter in the North Gauteng High Court where the DA has asked that the former president pay his own way.
In March, President Cyril Ramaphosa told Parliament that Zuma would pay his legal fees from his own pocket if the courts rule he had acted in his personal capacity.
Ramaphosa told the National Assembly that the State had paid a total of R15.3m for Zuma’s personal legal fees since 2006.
The basis of this was an agreement reached by Zuma and the Presidency in 2006 under then president Thabo Mbeki, on advice from the State Attorney’s office and the Department of Justice.
Meanwhile, inside court, Supra Mahumapelo, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, Sihle Zikalala, Des van Rooyen and other supporters wore tags marked “family”, as they sat in the public gallery offering their support to Zuma.
Last night Zuma’s supporters braved the cold to attend a night vigil ahead of his court appearance, but the numbers have dwindled since the first vigil.
Carl Niehaus, the MKMVA spokesperson, attributed the lower than expected turn out to deliberate sabotage.
“We have been disappointed by some people who promised to support us and donate funds for transport. They were intimidated and some of these businesses withdrew and that impacted on our ability to bring people from some of the outer lying areas,” Niehaus said.
However, he said he was happy with the turn out “under the circumstances”.
Zuma’s son Edward Zuma said the family was grateful for the support and urged fellow ANC members “to do the same for others”.
“We are not worried about this case because we understand it is just politics; we are not afraid,” Edward said. He said the former president was in good form and was ready for “this attack”.
Those who took part in the night vigil marched to the High Court. Opposite the court, on the grass verge near the railway line, a mobile stage was set up. A large contingent of SAPS and Durban Metro police were present.
On stage, speaker after speaker claimed Zuma was innocent and that the charges were the result of his support for radical economic transformation and free education for university students. They labelled media houses a sellout. – Additional reporting by Zainul Dawood