No date for Zuma's fate

2005-06-21 13:00

Pretoria - The date for former deputy president Jacob Zuma's appearance in court on two corruption charges has not yet been set, the national prosecuting authority said on Tuesday.

"No date has been set yet for Mr Zuma to face, amongst others, two corruption charges against him. I am very upset that there are reports circulating which specify a date," NPA spokesperson Makhosini Nkosi said.

Nkosi said he had been contacted by a journalist who had asked for a likely date for Zuma's appearance, for "planning purposes" who then published reports stating the date as being set for Thursday or Friday.

"I spoke to this person and told them the date had not been set although it would likely be some time this week. I did not give a definite indication of the date, but they went ahead and published which put me under pressure," said Nkosi.

He said the media would be informed in due course by the NPA of the arrangements for Zuma's appearance.

"The NPA has in the past always informed you (the media) of such arrangements," Nkosi said.

No new information

He said there was no new information on the matter since the NPA had called a press conference in Pretoria on Monday announcing its decision to charge Zuma.

Zuma would not be physically arrested but would be ordered to appear in court later this week in Durban, Nkosi said on Monday.

The charges followed a finding by the Durban High Court of a "generally corrupt" relationship between Zuma and his financial adviser Schabir Shaik, during Shaik's fraud and corruption trial. Shaik was sentenced to an effective 15 years in prison.

Zuma was then relieved of his position as deputy president by President Thabo Mbeki in a special sitting of parliament on Wednesday.

Zuma in a statement said he welcomed the NPA's decision to prosecute him as it afforded him "an opportunity to respond to, and clarify the allegations that have been made against me over a period of time."

- SAPA