Respect ruling - opposition

2008-09-12 14:28

Pietermaritzburg - Pietermaritzburg High Court Judge Chris Nicholson's verdict that the decision to prosecute African National Congress president Jacob Zuma was invalid must be respected, political parties said on Friday.

ANC spokesperson Jessie Duarte said it was a victory for justice and the constitution.

"The ANC calls on all South Africans and state institutions to respect the judgment handed down by Judge Chris Nicholson.

"It vindicates our view and further confirms the established position that the National Prosecuting Authority acted as though it was a law unto itself with undue political interference, and that Jacob Zuma was not responsible for the delays in prosecution," she said.

The ANC had always maintained that throughout the investigation and prosecution of this case, Zuma's rights had been repeatedly violated by the NPA.

"This case has been commented upon extensively, wrongly and in a skewed fashion, unfairly subjecting our president to the torture of public condemnation, undue prejudicial delay and violating his right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

"We believe that our president has been a subject of a vindictive prosecution," Duarte said.

No substantive arguments

However, Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Helen Zille said Zuma's supporters who "resorted to intimidatory and violent action" should understand their behaviour had no influence on the judgment.

"They must also understand that their behaviour has no place in a constitutional democracy."

Zille said it was significant that Nicholson stressed this was not a judgment on Zuma's guilt or innocence.

"We are still no closer to knowing whether Zuma is innocent or guilty of the corruption charges brought against him," she said.

United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa, said it should be remembered that no substantive arguments had been heard about the merits and demerits of the charges Zuma faced.

"In other words, Mr Zuma remains a suspect with a cloud hanging over his head, and a former financial advisor in prison for committing fraud and corruption.

"It is not the first time that the courts have ruled in his favour, so hopefully Mr Zuma and his supporters will stop questioning the impartiality of the judiciary.

"It is also pivotal that the question of whether there are undue political motives behind the prosecution of Mr Zuma be resolved; that too, can best be achieved in an open court," Holomisa said.

The Inkatha Freedom Party's (IFP) Musa Zondi, said his party had always supported the legal route as opposed to a political quick-fix to Zuma's charges, as demanded persistently by the ANC's alliance partners.

The IFP continued to support the legal course of Zuma's battle as long as it remained within the competencies of South Africa's judiciary.

Shocking indictment on Mbeki, Cabinet

"We continue to have full confidence in South Africa's judicial system. The IFP stands for the rule of law where the constitution reigns supreme," Zondi said.

Independent Democrats (ID) leader Patricia de Lille said Zuma should still "face the music and clear his name".

The judgment also "clearly indicates blatant political interference by President [Thabo] Mbeki and Cabinet members in the NPA process and the timing of charging Zuma".

"The ID views this as a shocking indictment on Mbeki and his Cabinet and lends further weight to the IDs call for a vote of no confidence in the President and the Cabinet, who must take collective responsibility for this entire debacle," De Lille said.

- SAPA