Zuma on his own after dumping lawyers
FORMER president Jacob Zuma pulled another surprise when he parted ways with his high-powered legal team while he has to face several legal challenges.
The divorce comes a few weeks before Zuma returns to the Pietermaritzburg High Court to face his corruption trial arising from the multibillion arms deal of the late 1990s.
Announcing their divorce from Zuma, Eric Mabuza of Mabuza Attorneys in Johannesburg wrote to the court and informed it. But Mabuza, who was Zuma’s instructing lawyer, did not give any reasons for their withdrawal in the letter and refused to discuss the matter when asked about it.
“Be pleased to take notice that Mabuza Attorneys hereby withdraw as the attorneys of record for Accused No 1. Kindly take notice further that the last known address of Accused No 1 is Kwadakwadunuse Homestead, KwaNxamalala, Nkandla, King Cetshwayo District, KwaZulu-Natal,” Mabuza Attorneys wrote to the court yesterday.
The split that affects advocate Muzi Sikhakhane SC, Zuma’s attorney of record, Eric Mabuza, advocate Thabani Masuku SC, advocate Mpilo Sikhakhane and Rudolph Baloyi took place last week.
A source, who is also part of Zuma’s brains trust, said the decision by Zuma to part with his legal team was informed by his belief that his trial was no longer a criminal one, but a political trial to finish him off.
“He has dumped his lawyers and he will be defending himself in court. Watch the space – when he goes to court next month there will be no lawyer on his side. Watch the real movie henceforth,” the source said.
Despite the latest developments regarding Zuma’s legal team, the National Prosecuting Authority said it was ready to proceed with the trial which has been on and off since June 2005.
The case returns to court on May 17 for pre-trial proceedings and NPA spokesperson Sipho Ngwema said they were ready to go ahead.