Zuma 'conspiracy' impacts ANC

2007-10-30 13:22

Johannesburg - The perception of a conspiracy against former Deputy President Jacob Zuma has had an impact on the African National Congress (ANC) and suggests a convergence of political and legal interests, senior political analyst Aubrey Matshiqi of the Centre of Political Studies said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a seminar on the state of the criminal justice system held by the Centre of the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR), Matshiqi referred to the implications the allegations surrounding Zuma have had on the South African criminal justice system.

"Conspiracy is also one of the main drivers of the ANC succession battle...however there is no evidence to support this conspiracy...what one should look at is the impact that this perception of conspiracy has on political conduct," he said.

He said the Zuma crisis was significant, not only regarding implications for the ANC succession battle and the future shape of South African politics, but also for the reputation of the criminal justice system and the integrity of the rule of law.

"It is not just the broad criminal justice system but principally two key components of the system and that is the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the judiciary."

He said the NPA and the judiciary had at times become enmeshed in the controversy relating to the Zuma matter.

Zuma's involvement in Schabir Shaik's trial as well as the rape trial had each in their own way been defining moments in embroiling these two agencies in the controversy.

"The NPA is leaping from one crisis to another in relation to the Zuma saga ... there is still a crisis of confidence within the NPA," Matshiqi said.

Problem of criminality

He said that the media had also played a major role in the crisis.

"The media has displayed President Thabo Mbeki as a main source of Zuma's problems."

He said that the media suggested that Mbeki was part of the "conspiracy" against Zuma.

Senior specialist researcher for the CSVR David Bruce presented his paper on the respect for justice and the law.

He suggested that there was a problem of criminality and a need for greater respect of the law.

"Communities seem to display admiration or hero worship for certain criminals...there is a debate between law enforcement and social crime prevention issues," Bruce said.

He said that the previous apartheid system had left a legacy that suggested that the legal system was corrupted.

"Problems today are related to the past and having undermined the law in the past."

- SAPA