Mojapelo tipped as Zuma judge
2006-02-09 17:10
Johannesburg - Judge Phineas Mojapelo has been tipped as the man to preside over the rape trial of former deputy president Jacob Zuma next week.
However, the official announcement will be made only on Friday.
An official in Johannesburg High Court registrar's office said on Thursday that Mojapelo would preside over the trial, but an official in Mojapelo's chambers said he could not confirm this.
The judges in forthcoming trials would be placed on court notice boards on Friday, he said.
Zuma is due to go on trial on a charge of raping a family friend at his home in Forest Town, Johannesburg. He has made public statements denying the accusation.
Media applications for a place in the public gallery are being processed this week for the first of the two trials in which Zuma will have to defend himself this year.
Supporters urged to attend trial
In June, he goes on trial in Durban for corruption relating to the guilty verdict of Schabir Shaik for corruption and fraud, against which the businessman is appealing.
The trials are expected to generate a vast amount of interest, and should have an impact on Zuma's eligibility as a candidate for the presidency.
The Friends of Jacob Zuma Trust urged his supporters on Wednesday to gather en masse at the court in his support.
In his last court appearance in Johannesburg, special arrangements were made for him to appear ahead of normal proceedings, and the media was barred by police.
At an application in Durban this week to have seized documents returned, media access to the court was restricted by Zuma's security personnel.
After a lawyer acting on behalf of one of the reporters contacted the judge, they were called into chambers.
The matter was moved to a larger court and the access permits being issued were shelved.
- SAPA