'My conscience is clear'

2006-05-06 10:18

Philip de Bruin

Johannesburg - When Judge Willem van der Merwe walks into Court 4E of the Rand High Court on Monday morning, he will be only too aware of the fact that the eyes of not only South Africans, but also those of the international community, will be on him and him alone.

That is when he will start his verdict in the rape case against Jacob Zuma, once deputy president of the country.

The verdict will be broadcast live.

"Of course, it puts extra pressure on me, but I believe that once I get going on Monday, everything will go smoothly," Van der Merwe said.

"I start weighing the facts from the very first words of the trial, when the accused pleads.

"As the trial proceeds, one discards certain facts as unimportant; others one goes to retrieve later.

"With this particular case, I have eaten, drunk and slept the Zuma trial.

"I was up at three every morning to start working on it. I went to the office at that time to be able to give at least three hours of uninterrupted attention to the trial.

"Some of my most wonderful insights in the trial came when I was showering. And as you live with everything, there just comes that golden moment when you simply have the answer.

"For me, the most important factor of the trial remains that on Monday and the days following I should be able to live with my conscience and the end result.

"I have listened to everyone without prejudice.

"I am not afraid of the answer that will be sent into the world by me on Monday.

"Yes, Mr Zuma's trial is one that could be called a high-profile trial.

"But for me as a judge that is not what it is about.

"It's a trial like any other trial in which I've had to give a verdict.

"Before me, everyone is equal, as the law requires."

- Beeld