Judge slams Zuma protesters

2008-09-06 08:00

Durban - KwaZulu-Natal Judge President Vuka Tshabalala has criticised protests by ANC President Jacob Zuma's supporters at courts across the province, SABC news reported on Friday.

He said the courts should be left to do their work, adding that pickets would not influence the outcome of the courts in anyway

Protests and pickets were staged at magistrate's courts in parts of KwaZulu-Natal on Friday in a campaign aimed at forcing the court to drop fraud and corruption charges against Zuma.

The protests arranged by the ANC's eThekwini region, will be followed by the handing over of memorandums detailing the party's demands, including that the National Prosecuting Authority drop charges against Zuma.

Tshabalala said the pickets would not force the justice system to give in to the demands of demonstrators.

Earlier, Inspector Solomon Mbhele said a crowd of about 1 000 converged outside the court. Some, he said, were armed with sticks.

'Not too much violence'

"The protesters were trying to get into the court but police with riot shields managed to stop them. Some protesters were also throwing the orange cones that were demarcating the surrounding roads," Mbhele said.

"There was not too much violence but there was a lot of chancing," he said.

John Mhunu, ANC eThekwini general secretary, said officials closed the door to the court building, preventing the protesters from entering.

He said: "We are members of the public and like them we have a right to enter the building."

Meanwhile, a crowd of about 100 were seen picketing outside the Durban Magistrate's Court.

Protesters held a big banner which read: "We shall take arms if need be to support ANC president Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma."

In KwaMashu, Constable Sizwe Nxumalo reported that at least 300 supporters were protesting outside the Ntuzuma Magistrate's Court.

At the Umlazi court, Superintendent Danelia Veldhuizen said there were about 100 protesters.

There were unconfirmed reports of cases at the court being rolled over due to high noise levels.

Last week the ANC, supported by the SA Communist Party, marched on various police stations in the province. This time the protesters targeted courts.

Captain Edmund Singh said a small group of about 50 protesters had gathered at the Chatsworth Magistrate's Court.

Overall, Mchunu declared Friday's protests successful.

Another protest was planned for September 10 outside the National Prosecuting Authority's offices in Durban.

Asked about the influence of politics in Zuma's case, Tshabalala said he could not comment as he was not dealing with the case.

Zuma charged with corruption

On the eve of September 12, when Zuma finds out whether Judge Chris Nicholson has ruled in his favour to have the decision to charge him declared unlawful, protesters will converge on Pietermaritzburg's Freedom Square (formerly Market Square) for a night vigil.

Zuma faces charges which include corruption and fraud. He was charged in 2005 but that case was struck from the roll in 2006. He was re-charged in December 2007.

Two Thint companies - Thint Holding (Southern Africa) Pty Ltd and Thint (Pty) Ltd - are the South African subsidiaries of the French arms manufacturing giant Thales International (formerly Thomson-CFS).

They also face similar charges for allegedly paying him bribes.

- SAPA