‘Let him rest,’ pleads Zuma’s family after trial postponed

In the wake of yet another court postponement, the family of scandal-prone former president Jacob Zuma has pleaded with the courts to “let the old man rest”.

“We cannot wait until these cases are over. We are really tired. He is tired,” Zuma’s brother, Joseph, said.

“These cases never end. Let him rest. When will it end?”

The 80-year-old former head of state was at his rural homestead, KwaDakwadunuse in Nkandla, when his corruption trial was postponed to a holding date of August 1 at the Pietermaritzburg High Court yesterday.

Joseph said when he saw Zuma on Friday, he was in good spirits.

“He was sitting with two women from the Zion church who had brought prayers.”

Senior Zuma family member Khanya said he was happy the former president’s health had stabilised.

“He wasn’t OK recently but the doctor often comes to see him here [in Nkandla].

“When the situation is too serious, he is referred to a hospital. He is OK now.”

Jacob G Zuma Foundation spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi said Zuma was not required to physically appear in court yesterday.

“[Judge Piet] Koen said today is an administrative date. He does not have to be there. Even on August 1, Koen has excused him. If the timetable goes according to Koen, the case will commence on August 15.”

Manyi slammed the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) handling of the matter of lead prosecutor advocate Billy Downer.

“The foundation is very disturbed by the Stalingrad tactics of the NPA. On April 8, they made a call that they will not prosecute Downer. What they must follow through with is a certificate confirming their stance so with that certificate we are able to kickstart the private prosecution.

“They keep saying Downer is clean. It’s fine, let them say that, but they must give the certificate so we can do what we need to do on our part.

“What is happening is his so-called ‘clean’ is artificially created. This is abuse of state apparatus to maintain certain narratives. If [national director of |public prosecutions [Shamila] Batohi and her people were honest and genuine about the whole thing, they have made a decision they are not prosecuting and they should issue the certificate.

“What is it so complicated?” Asked about the crowdfunding initiative established at the end of August last year to help Zuma pay for his mounting legal woes, Manyi said: “I don’t have the account, so I do not know the details as to where it is.”

In September last year, TimesLIVE reported that the account belonged to Zuma and not the foundation.

Zuma was in August said to need “millions” for his escalating legal bills.