Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
S. African defiant after criminal hearing
DURBAN, South Africa — Former South African President Jacob Zuma sat in the dock of a packed courtroom Friday to face corruption charges and emerged defiant, telling supporters that the case against him was politically motivated.
Zuma, 75, appeared relaxed during the brief hearing at which his case was adjourned until June 8. While a lengthy court battle is expected, the spectacle of Zuma appearing before a judge less than two months after his resignation was a victory for opposition figures and activists who have fought for years to call him to account.
Sixteen charges of fraud, racketeering and money laundering were recently reinstated after being thrown out nearly a decade ago. They relate to an arms deal in the 1990s, when Zuma was deputy president. The case fueled the public anger that forced Zuma from power in February.
At the hearing, Judge Themba Sishi said Zuma was free “on warning.” He could face several years in prison.
Outside the courthouse, Zuma told the crowd that he was the victim of a political vendetta and that he has campaigned for the economic rights of South Africa’s black majority since the end of apartheid in 1994. The message resonates among many people who resent the fact that much of the economy remains in the hands of the white minority despite the advent of democracy.