Zuma 'could become unstoppable'
2006-09-21 12:06
Johannesburg - A second court victory in a matter of months has put ANC deputy leader Jacob Zuma at the head of the race to succeed Thabo Mbeki but commentators say his anointment as president is far from sure.
South African media on Thursday unequivocally said Zuma's flagging career had been turbo-charged by a judge's decision to throw out a corruption case linked to a 1999 arms deal, merely four months after he was acquitted of rape.
"South Africans wake up today to a new political landscape - one dramatically altered by the judgment to strike Jacob Zuma's corruption case off the roll," the mass-circulation Star daily said.
"If the State decides not to reinstate the corruption charge against Zuma - who has already been acquitted of rape this year ... Zuma could become unstoppable."
Could be recharged
Judge Herbert Msimang on Wednesday threw out corruption charges against Zuma saying the State's decision to prosecute him was "anchored" on unsound principles and had "limped from one disaster to another".
Zuma's lawyers had argued that the case should be thrown out, saying that documents seized during searches in his homes infringed on his rights.
Zuma, who remains deputy leader of the ruling African National Congress, was sacked by Mbeki in June 2005 after Zuma's financial advisor Schabir Shaik was sentenced to 15 years in jail for corruption.
The veteran Zulu politician had been accused of complicity in accepting a bribe through Shaik to protect local subsidiaries of French arms firm Thales from a subsequent state investigation into alleged irregularities.
In a court affidavit, however, Zuma argued he was the victim of a conspiracy hatched by opponents within the ANC to prevent him from stepping into Mbeki's shoes when he retires in 2009.
The respected Business Day newspaper said while Zuma "may have won a public relations victory ... he has not won the legal battle yet", as there was still a possibility that he could be charged again.
Still question marks
Judith February, a leading political analyst, said all Zuma had gained so far was a "temporary reprieve".
"He could be re-charged and a cloud remains over him, although his supporters are interpreting the court judgment as a 'not guilty' verdict which is not correct," she told AFP.
"There are still question marks relating to his rape trial and his unfortunate comments on HIV and AIDS as well as his integrity. Some might ask, is that kind of person acceptable to lead the country?"
Mbeki himself has called for a woman to succeed him as the third president of post-apartheid South Africa and other influential voices have also come out against Zuma, including the Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu who branded him unfit for the top job.
Analysts also said the timing of possible fresh charges against Zuma by State prosecutors was crucial, especially since the ruling party is scheduled to hold a meeting next year to elect its new leader.
"If it is done just before the party congress, it could be potentially damaging," Adam Habib from the Pretoria-based Human Sciences Research Council said.
"If the National Prosecuting Authority has come so far, it may well re-charge Zuma."