Zuma: Mbeki 'will say nothing'
2006-09-20 22:32
Johannesburg - President Thabo Mbeki had nothing to say about Pietermaritzburg High Court's decision to strike the corruption trial of his former deputy Jacob Zuma from the roll, said a presidential spokesperson on Wednesday.
"He has nothing to say, nothing, really nothing," said presidential spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga. "There is no comment."
He said that Mbeki, who is in New York attending an African Union peace and security council meeting, had been informed of the judgment.
Last year, Mbeki announced to parliament that Zuma had been "released" from his duties after a Durban High Court judgment that Zuma and his financial adviser Schabir Shaik had a "generally corrupt" relationship.
Zuma's corruption trial centred on the accusation that he accepted a bribe from his co-accused, arms company Thint, with whom Shaik had interests, in exchange for protection during probes into a multimillion-dollar arms deal.
'Socially prejudiced'
Zuma was replaced by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, wife of former national director of public prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka, who had said in August 2003 that he had prima facie evidence of corruption against Zuma, but would not win a court case.
Since Zuma left office, many of his supporters have rounded on Mbeki, often singing derogatory songs about him.
Judge Herbert Msimang struck the case off the roll on Wednesday, citing among his reasons that the prosecution's case depended on the outcome of appeals regarding controversial search-and-seizure raids, when documents were taken from Zuma's lawyers and from Zuma.
Msimang said Zuma had been socially prejudiced which "closely resembles punishment that should be handed only to a convicted person".
- SAPA