Superstar welcome for Zuma

2008-09-12 13:30

Pietermaritzburg - African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma received a superstar welcome from thousands of supporters outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Friday.

Just moments earlier, Judge Chris Nicholson had declared the decision to prosecute him on fraud and corruption charges invalid, holding that the State should have consulted him before going ahead with the prosecution.

Cheers of joy erupted outside the court when the verdict was broadcast to his supporters camped out in Freedom Square, opposite the court, in a chilly Pietermaritzburg.

Surrounded by dozens of bodyguards, Zuma waved as he arrived to address his supporters, some of whom had climbed into trees to catch a glimpse of him.

"Chris Nicholson is not a counter-revolutionary judge," ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe told supporters after the ruling.

ANC Youth League president Julius Malema said he always knew Zuma would win the court bid to have the prosecution declared invalid.

'Mbeki the problem'

"The problem in this country is [President] Thabo Mbeki and his people... We don't want him," Malema said.

"The NEC [national executive committee] has got a responsibility to recall Mbeki or else we will recall them.

"To the racist media... we defeated you again," Malema added to loud cheers.

Behind him was a huge banner with a picture of Zuma and the words "hands off our president".

"Today we feel absolutely vindicated. We want to see who are the rapists of the judicial system," said Congress of South African Trade Unions secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi

"There is a political conspiracy, that's what we have been saying. That's what we have been ridiculed for."

South African Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande said Zuma's rights had been raped.

"Zapiro, don't try and make fun of rape. Our sisters, our mothers are victims of rape on a daily basis. Don't play with rape. It's you, along with the other media people who are rapists.

"We are happy for Msholozi and we did say we would support him until the end."

- SAPA