‘Instant’ NGO takes up battle for its hero

● The lobby group that has gone to court to stop the prosecution of former president Jacob Zuma was formed days before it launched its legal action.

The South African Natives Forum wants the High Court in Cape Town to declare Zuma’s prosecution unconstitutional, and has applied for a permanent stay order.

In its 420-page application the group argues that Zuma is a “national hero” and a victim of “extremely prejudicial prosecutorial misconduct”.

One of the NGO’s founders, Nkathale Dikobo, described it as a “social justice foundation and think-tank established to defend, advocate for and promote the socioeconomic and legal interest of native South Africans”.

It was formed last month and is said to have links to pro-Zuma figures associated with the Black First Land First movement.

The organisation’s lawyer is Lucky Thekisho, a member of the Transform RSA lobby that has supported Zuma.

On Friday, National Director of Public Prosecutions Shaun Abrahams announced his decision to reinstate 16 charges of fraud, corruption, money-laundering and racketeering against Zuma, linked to the multibillion-rand arms deal.

Abrahams acknowledged that an NGO had brought a court action for a permanent stay of prosecution and said the NPA would oppose it.

The forum’s court bid could delay the start of Zuma’s trial.

Forum spokesman Shanepene Nphaloane said: “We decided to get involved because we are interested in social justice. It is not about the president.”

He said the organisation had been formed by activists from Black First Land First, the EFF and the ANC, among others.

In the court application, the organisation argues that the NPA violated the constitution in dealing with the charges against Zuma.

Dikobo says in an affidavit accompanying the action that the legitimacy of a decision to bring criminal charges “is as important . . . as the actual trial itself”.

“To violate the constitutional requirements for a lawful and valid exercise of prosecutorial discretion is to undermine the very core of our constitutional rights,” Dikobo said.

“Mr Zuma is a national hero, who had an indelible impact in the prosecution of the liberation struggle. He is a stalwart of that struggle and played a significant role in ensuring that there were successful political negotiations and the end of apartheid.”

We are interested in social justice. It is not about the president

Shanepene Nphaloane South African Natives Forum spokesman