Experts work on Zuma strategy
by
2008-07-11 09:42
Johannesburg - A "brains trust" of legal and academic experts is helping the African National Congress devise a strategy to free its president Jacob Zuma from investigations relating to the controversial arms deal, the Mail&Guardian reported on Friday.
Judge Willem Heath, SA Institute of Race Relations president Sipho Seepe and the University of Cape Town's deputy registrar of legal services Paul Ngobeni were reportedly working towards "ultimately closing the book on the entire arms deal saga".
This included raising public consciousness about the unfairness of the investigation into him on corruption charges relating to the deal; giving Zuma's legal team ammunition to argue for a permanent stay of prosecution and using the fallout about the Constitutional Court's complaint against Judge John Hlophe to argue that courts couldn't be impartial.
The final "thrust" appeared to be for Parliament to close the arms deal saga and order that all investigations be shut down, the report said.
Seepe and Ngobeni said they were not paid ANC consultants, but confirmed having discussions with each other and with Heath.
Ngobeni said he was not part of a "concerted campaign" to save Zuma, but had been engaged in debates he believed were important for the country.
Seepe said his reference point was protecting institutions.
Heath was not available to comment ahead of the report's publication.