Zuma slams media
2006-09-20 16:09
Pietermaritzburg - ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma on Wednesday accused the media of sentencing him even before a judge had decided on the corruption charge he faced.
"The media asked: 'What is Zuma hiding?'," Zuma told thousands of people outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court after his and co-accused Thint's case was struck from the roll.
He had to pause while the crowd booed the journalists covering the case, before adding: "Not all of them."
"They asked me what the charges are instead of asking the State. They had already sentenced me," said Zuma.
"You (his supporters) showed that you know what democracy, constitution, judiciary and the law is."
He said the whole world now knows that South Africans cannot be taken for granted.
Supporters carried a yellow plastic coffin
"I said I was innocent, I am still saying I am innocent, I will repeat it tomorrow. I can say anything I like because there is no sub judice now."
He thanked businessmen, politicians, priests and the Zulu monarch King Goodwill Zwelithini for their support and said the time would come when he thanked everyone properly.
He briefed the crowd on Judge Herbert Msimang's judgment and said if there were still people who wanted to charge him they would have to start from scratch.
Afterwards he sang his trademark song "Awuleth' umshini wami" and then got into a black Range Rover.
As his convoy took him away from the court, he waved at people who had filled the city from Church Street to Loop street to see him.
Some supporters carried a yellow plastic coffin with photograph of President Thabo Mbeki stuck to it. ANC Youth League spokesperson Zizi Kodwa intervened and they agreed to stop carrying the coffin.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) was disappointed at the trial being struck off the roll and would spend the next few days studying the judgment.
- SAPA