Case against Zuma 'political'
2008-08-04 11:17
Pietermaritzburg - The fraud and corruption case against Jacob Zuma is a "political one" was the refrain repeated by supporter after supporter outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Monday.
"We strongly believe the case against him is political," the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans' Association's Ayanda Dlodlo told a crowd of several hundred in Market Square opposite the court.
She said the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) had charged the African National Congress (ANC) leader with racketeering, amongst other charges, in the hope that "anything will stick".
She told the crowd of an SMS number to which Zuma's supporters could send messages of support, that would form part of a signature campaign. On hearing the number, several people in the crowd whipped out their cellphones and repeated the digits to one another.
"We are hoping for more than three million signatures to be sent to the NPA. The charges (against Zuma) must be withdrawn unreservedly and unconditionally," she told the crowd, who was packed up against a police barricade to separate them from the marquee under which several high-profile ANC members were sitting. Several people had climbed trees to get a better view.
"We are too short, we can't see our leaders," two women complained.
ANC 'will never become opposition party'
The MKMVA's Ike Mapoto, who introduced himself as a "senior commander of the ANC", said the party should never become an opposition party, before recounting how the Soviets had taught ANC cadres how to fire AK-47 assault rifles in the rain.
He interrupted his speech to shout orders at a group of group of MKMVA members from the North West, some in full camouflage outfits who marched past the stage before performing a dance and singing.
Young Communist League general secretary Buti Manamela began his speech with chants of "We are with you Jacob Zuma".
"This sitting [of the court] has started seven years ago with clandestine, guerrilla-style tactics by the NPA and the Scorpions. These dirty tricks will not succeed. It's a political trial, there's nothing legal about it."
He criticised the Constitutional Court's ruling last week which would allow the state to use documents seized from Zuma's home and offices as well as the offices of French arms company Thint, in their case.
"The so-called majority [ruling by the Constitutional Court] is a minority amongst us because we know that it is a political trial.
"We will do everything in our power to stop this shenaniganism (sic)," he added.
ANC Women's League president Angie Motshekga also voiced her support for Zuma, saying: "We are looking forward to making him president of the country next year.
"This case has been in the air for years. Jacob Zuma has always been thrown to the wolves."
The dignitaries, which included ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe and party treasurer general Mathews Phosa then made their way to the court across the street, accompanied by the dulcet tones of the Old Time Religion Quartet who sang "wrestling Jacob, let me go, I will not let you go".
Court case under way
Meanwhile, the court started hearing argument on why the corruption case against Zuma should be dropped.
His soft-spoken lawyer, Kemp J Kemp, started presenting arguments in the application to have the decision to prosecute Zuma declared unlawful.
Judge Chris Nicholson asked Kemp to speak louder as journalists and members of the public struggled to hear him.
"The court requires that you should raise your voice," the judge told Kemp.
- SAPA