Zuma makes veiled trial threat
Hints at defiance if his rights are violated
FORMER president Jacob Zuma has hinted that he may also defy the Pietermaritzburg High Court should his rights be violated during his corruption trial.
The former president made this veiled threat yesterday.
Zuma was addressing his supporters outside the court where he appeared before Judge Piet Koen for his long-standing corruption trial where he is accused of pocketing bribes from his former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, during the country’s arms procurement of the late 1990s.
Zuma’s threat comes as the case was moved to May 26.
Addressing his supporters about his concerns, Zuma said his legal team, now led by advocate Thabani Masuku SC, was in the process of filing an application to have the State prosecutor, advocate Billy Downer SC, recuse himself.
Speaking in isiZulu, Zuma indicated that he believed Downer and a few others had allegedly conducted themselves unethically during the gathering of evidence and that he “would not allow that to contaminate the high stakes trial”.
“A lot of wrong things happened and we are raising that in court. That is where we are right now. I must tell you that I will not allow the violation of my rights and, if that happens, I may not take part (in the trial). You all know that once I say I won’t do something, that’s the end of it,” Zuma told his supporters.
The National Prosecuting Authority said it hoped the latest action by Zuma and his lawyers was not another delaying tactic.
Zuma is currently facing a possible jail term after he defied the Constitutional Court when it ruled that he must appear before the Zondo Commission. He accused judges of playing politics.
With the matter at the Pietermaritzburg High Court moved to next week, the attendance by Zuma supporters is expected to balloon despite Covid-19 restrictions.
Meanwhile, suspended ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule, who also addressed supporters, said they would bring the “entire Free State” to Pietermaritzburg, and that KZN must also come to court to support Zuma.
“Next time when we come here on May 26, we will bring the whole Free State here. You must listen, the whole Free State, not just ANC members, they will come here. So we want the whole KwaZulu-Natal here on the 26th. If you support Msholozi, if you support the ANC, bring your mother, your father, your child, on the 26th. South Africa must come to a standstill,” he said. Also outside the court, where security forces and some private companies cordoned off the main street in front of the court, the two most senior leaders of the ANC in KZN, provincial chairperson Sihle Zikalala and provincial secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli had a tough time.
This was after Zuma’s supporters booed them, prompting Ntuli to tell them that they were wasting their time “if they have been bussed” to specifically do that. While booing the two, the supporters chanted Magashule’s name while waving thumbs-down and using their hands as a gesture for change.
Some openly called Ntuli a “Judas Iscariot” and a “traitor”.
While Magashule openly defied the instruction by the ANC’s top structure not to involve himself in party matters as part of the conditions of his suspension, the party yesterday formally indicated that it would oppose his court bid to have his suspension overturned.
ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe confirmed in a statement yesterday afternoon that ANC officials had met and decided to oppose the application.
The party has assembled a formidable legal team that includes an attorney, three senior counsels, including top advocates Wim Trengove and Fana Nalane and one junior counsel.
“The ANC has appointed Ledwaba Mazwai Attorneys as instructing attorneys supported by three senior counsels and one junior counsel, advocate Wim Trengove SC, advocate Ngwako Maenetje SC, advocate Fana Nalane SC and advocate Buhle Lekokotla,” Mabe said.
“I must tell you that I will not allow the violation of my rights and, if that happens, may not take part
FORMER PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA