Cosatu: Select judge carefully
2005-06-21 09:06
Johannesburg - The Congress of SA Trade Unions said on Monday it welcomed former deputy president Jacob Zuma being given an opportunity to defend himself in court but warned against appointing a judge from a "controversial" background.
This follows an announcement by the national prosecuting authority that Zuma would appear in court in Durban later this week on corruption charges emanating from the trial of businessman Schabir Shaik, who acted as Zuma's financial adviser.
The labour movement said it reaffirmed its position against corruption and the misuse of power.
"It also however reaffirms its strong belief that anyone is innocent until proved guilty, and condemns any attempt to discredit anyone who has not been convicted of any offence."
Cosatu welcomed that fact that Zuma would have an opportunity to rebut the allegations levelled against him.
"We hope that in appointing a judge, the authorities will be sensitive to some of the issues raised during the Shaik trial and not select a judge with a controversial background," Cosatu said.
Judge Hilary Squires, who heard the case with two assessors and sentenced Shaik to 15 years in prison, has been called an "old Rhodesia, apartheid-era judge" by the ANC Youth League.
- SAPA