'Guilty in court of public opinion'

2008-08-04 09:03

Pietermaritzburg - The African National Congress (ANC) repeated claims on Monday that its president, Jacob Zuma, was being persecuted, ahead of his court bid to have the decision to prosecute him declared unlawful.

"Mr Zuma has been found guilty in the court of public opinion because the NPA [National Prosecuting Authority] has consistently sent messages... that are incorrect," ANC spokesperson Jessie Duarte told reporters outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court.

Asked who within the NPA was persecuting Zuma, she replied: "We don't know. We only know that it is the NPA that is persecuting Zuma."

Zuma is facing more than a dozen charges, including racketeering, corruption, money laundering and fraud.

Duarte criticised the Constitutional Court's handling of the John Hlophe saga, where the judge has been accused of attempting to interfere in the court's ruling on a matter related to Zuma.

Duarte said the Constitutional Court should have dealt with the issue internally before making a public statement.

"We've seen statements of an unacceptable nature coming from the judiciary," said Duarte.

Special Task Force deployed

Meanwhile, Zuma supporters started arriving outside the court.

A group of people marched down Church street, singing, dancing and whistling. Some held a sign stating: "ANC North West firmly supports Jacob Zuma".

"Comrade JZ, they must leave him [alone]," said a supporter who did not want to be named.

The street outside the court was bustling with pedestrians on their way to work on a chilly morning while journalists were swarming around officials to get accreditation tags.

Members of the Special Task Force had been deployed to keep a close eye over the thousands of people expected to gather at the court.

"We've got every available person on the ground. There are no major disruptions. I see the taxis are also running," police spokesman Superintendent Henry Budhram told Sapa.

Television camera crews were conducting early morning interviews, preparing for the court case where Zuma will face several charges including corruption and fraud.

A stage had been set up for Zuma to address the crowds later.

Judge Chris Nicholson will hear an application by Zuma to have the decision to prosecute him declared unlawful.

Zuma argued in court papers that the National Prosecuting Authority did not follow the correct legal procedures when it decided to prosecute him in June 2005 and December 2007, just after his financial advisor Schabir Shaik was convicted of corruption.

- SAPA