Opposition calls for Zuma's head
2005-06-02 17:15
Cape Town - Opposition parties are calling for the head of deputy president Jacob Zuma, or at least warning there are some very dark clouds hanging over it.
"He should resign forthwith. If he fails to do so, President (Thabo) Mbeki should dismiss him," Democratic Alliance chief whip Douglas Gibson said in parliament in Cape Town on Thursday, while moving a motion of no confidence in the deputy president.
His colleague, DA justice spokesperson Sheila Camerer, told reporters earlier in the day that Zuma "has become an embarrassment, not only to the president, but also to the ANC and the country as a whole".
This follow the conviction on Thursday of Zuma's former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, on two counts of corruption and one of fraud.
The judgment, by Judge Hilary Squires in the Durban High Court shortly after noon, delivered what many believe will prove a lethal blow to Zuma's political future with its depiction of the "symbiotic" relationship between him and Schaik.
'Dark cloud'
Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi said on Thursday the verdict in the Shaik trial would "hang like a dark cloud" over the deputy president.
"One is mindful that the shadow of corruption looms over public life in South Africa, and that this verdict will serve to reinforce that perception," he said in a statement.
This would not help Zuma perform his duties, such as chairing the Moral Regeneration Commission.
"This verdict will undoubtedly hang like a dark cloud over the deputy president, and, sadly, will damage South Africa's standing in the international community," he said.
Freedom Front Plus leader Dr Pieter Mulder echoed Buthelezi's sentiments, saying the conviction of Shaik "once again places a cloud of suspicion over the whole arms deal".
It also placed Zuma's political future in the balance.
'Guilty in absentia'
"It proves that politicians, as public officials, should not have corrupt friends that could bring them to a fall," he said in a statement.
Camerer said Squires' verdict "effectively means that deputy president Jacob Zuma - while not on trial himself - has been found guilty in absentia".
In light of the verdict, it was now clear Zuma and Shaik had had a generally corrupt relationship, and that Shaik solicited a bribe on Zuma's behalf.
In a charge of this nature it should not be forgotten that it took "two to tango".
"It is clear that Zuma accepted payments from Shaik in return for allowing him to use his political office to help Shaik secure business contracts.
"Such a relationship clearly implicates both parties in the relationship -- the giver and the receiver.
"In light of the overwhelming evidence linking Zuma to the guilty verdict of Shaik, the NPA (national prosecuting authority) should reconsider the decipion not to charge Zuma with... corruption," Camerer said.
need for 'decisive leadership'
The United Democratic Movement has also called for Zuma's dismissal.
"During his judgment, Justice Squires has found that there is clear evidence of a corruptor (Mr Shaik) and a corruptee (Mr Zuma).
"I think the time is ripe for the State to charge Mr Zuma now, after the evidence has been tested and accepted before a court of law," UDM leader Bantu Holomisa said in a statement on Thursday.
What was required now was decisive leadership.
"The president must now prove the commitment he made last week in parliament, where he said that government would no longer tolerate members of the executive who abused their positions for personal gain," he said.
Independent Democrats leader Patricia De Lille said, through her spokesperson, that the NPA should review its decision there was no prima facie evidence to continue a case against Zuma.
De Lille, who in 1999, as a Pan Africanist Congress MP at the time, made the first claims of corruption in South Africa's multi-billion arms deal, is currently attending a conference in India.
The African Christian Democratic Party has also added its voice on to the clamour for Zuma's resignation.
"In view of Judge Hilary Squires' conviction of Schabir Shaik on two counts of corruption and one of fraud, the ACDP calls for deputy president Jacob Zuma's resignation," ACDP justice spokesperson Steve Swart said in a statement.
ANC
"We further call for the NPA to immediately prosecute the deputy president," he said.
Zuma's own party, the governing ANC, of which he is also deputy president, reacted to the judgment by saying it appreciated the role of the court in affirming the rule of law as an integral part of the country's democratic constitutional order.
"The ANC has maintained throughout this matter that the due process of law must be allowed to proceed without let or hindrance, and that the basic principles of justice - including the right to presumption of innocence - should be observed," it said in a statement.
Zuma himself had little to say on Thursday.
A statement by the government communications department said the deputy president was "studying the judgment before making any detailed comment".
- SAPA