Top VIPs at Zuma trial

2006-09-05 11:58

Pietermaritzburg - Leading African National Congress provincial figures were present in the courtroom where former deputy president Jacob Zuma was facing corruption charges.

Seen at the trial, were KwaZulu-Natal premier S'bu Ndebele and KwaZulu-Natal health MEC Peggy Nkonyeni.

Congress of SA Trade Unions secretary-general Zwelinzima Vavi arrived shortly before proceedings started.

Outside the crowd of supporters and onlookers had swelled to about 6 000, said metro police spokesperson Dumisani Phini.

They included former Limpopo premier Ngoako Ramatlhodi, Young Communist League national secretary Buti Manamela and KwaZulu-Natal safety MEC Bheki Cele.

Durban's top club disc jockey, DJ Siyanda, in a white suit and shirt, was among those attending.

Separate applications

Judge Herbert Msimang ordered on Tuesday that the State proceed first with its application to have Jacob Zuma's trial postponed before hearing Zuma and his co-accused Thint's application for a permanent stay of prosecution.

Msimang told the Pietermaritzburg High Court that he wanted to separate the application for postponement, from the application for a permanent stay of prosecution.

Once a final indictment was served most evidence should have been obtained, Judge Herbert Msimang told the State advocate applying on Tuesday to have Jacob Zuma's corruption trial postponed.

"If the evidence we talk about is not material, why should we adjourn this case?" asked Msimang.

Wim Trengove had argued that the State needed the postponement to allow for further investigation. He said: "Fairness is not confined to fairness of the accused, but also fairness to the public as represented by the State."

Zuma is accused of having accepted a R500 000 a year bribe from French arms subsidiary Thint in exchange for protection in a probe into South Africa's massive arms deal.

Zuma and Thint's legal teams are expected to try to have his corruption case thrown out of court in its later application for a permanent stay of prosecution.

Zuma believes the State has not proceeded timeously and that it has been investigating him for more than five years.

However, Trengove told the court that "time began running" when the National Prosecuting Authority announced on June 20 2005 that it would charge Zuma.

The State in its heads of argument said that postponing the case to early next year would not be an "unreasonable delay".

- SAPA