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NPA closer to decision on Zuma
20/12/2007 14:42 - (SA)
Polokwane - The National Prosecuting Authority is closer to making a decision on whether to go ahead with renewed corruption charges against ANC president Jacob Zuma, spokesperson Tlali Tlali said on Thursday.
"We are ready to make a final decision. The investigations have been carried out," he said.
The charges, thrown out of court last year without a hearing, centre on his relationship with businessman and struggle comrade Schabir Shaik, who was found guilty in 2005 of soliciting an arms company bribe for Zuma and jailed for an effective 15 years.
President Thabo Mbeki sacked Zuma as deputy president soon after the Shaik verdict, sparking massive support for Zuma and open criticism of Mbeki, who was ousted as ANC leader at its national conference in Polokwane on Tuesday.
Initial charges dropped
Initial corruption charges were dropped against Zuma last year as the State said it wasn't ready to prosecute him, causing a massive outcry.
The NPA's Directorate of Special Operations (DSO), known as the Scorpions has come under criticism for dragging the matter out and leaving a cloud hanging over Zuma's head.
Zuma is currently challenging aspects of the search and seizure raids related to the investigation against him, in the Constitutional Court.
The NPA filed answering affidavits two days after the court's deadline but have applied for the late filing to be condoned, said Tlali.
These papers reportedly contain further details on the investigation against Zuma.
Tlali could not say when the decision would be finalised but when asked how the NPA's latest announcement is different from previous announcements in the stop-start case, Tlali said: "Things are not what they were then."
'Very difficult' for ANC
The party's newly elected deputy Kgalema Motlanthe said during the ANC's national conference in Polokwane, that the possibility of renewed charges against Zuma were very difficult for the party.
"The issue of comrade Jacob Zuma facing fresh charges is very difficult to deal with, for the simple reason that many people can face allegations at some point or the other," he said.
"The prosecution will have a second bite at him and we will see how that pans out," he said.
Reflecting the opinion of many at the conference, Motlanthe said he was concerned by the way the Scorpions had conducted the investigation, naming Zuma before he was brought to court.
Tlali said that communication from the NPA on the Zuma matter had been based on the fact that the case had already been in court, and the vast public interest.
"It is partly because of that (public interest) and partly because this has been in court already and people knew about it," he said.
"The prosecuting team stated their reasons in court on why they sought a postponement - and at that time everybody was well aware what the intention was.
"The court said 'come back when you are ready'. It was an open court. It was a public court; people knew about it so there was nothing secret about it," he said.
Tlali said the NPA was aware that ANC's conference commissions were discussing moving the Scorpions into the SA Police Service, but until it became law, it would be treated as policy.
"We operate according to the laws that are passed in Parliament," he said.
- SAPA
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