ANC confident of Zuma ruling

2008-09-12 08:55

Pietermaritzburg - The African National Congress (ANC) expressed confidence on Friday that the Pietermaritzburg High Court would rule that the decision to prosecute its president Jacob Zuma was unlawful.

"It's been eight years now and a child has already been born and gone to school. This is not a game we are playing. It's about a man's life," said ANC spokesperson Jessie Duarte.

"We would like to move on now. We are not going to ask Mr Zuma to withdraw his candidacy for the election... because he didn't take the decision on his own... the decision was taken at Polokwane by the ANC," she told reporters in Pietermaritzburg.

She reiterated that, in the ANC's eyes, Zuma was innocent and that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) did not act legally. "Our hopes are high that the charges would be thrown out."

Meanwhile, thousands of supporters were singing and toyi-toying outside the court where Judge Chris Nicholson will deliver his judgment on an application to declare unlawful the decision to prosecute Zuma on corruption and other charges.

The police said they had prepared for a crowd of 15 000.

Superintendent Henry Budhram said there had been no incidents of violence during the Thursday night vigil.

Close watch

Earlier this week, a march by Zuma supporters turned violent in Durban and two people were arrested on charges of public violence.

"We have policemen from all over the province, particularly those stationed in Pietermaritzburg here to ensure a peaceful protest. So far, we didn't see any protesters carrying sticks or any other weapons," said Budhram.

ANC leaders started arriving outside the court alongside supporters, some carrying umbrellas to protect themselves against a light drizzle.

Television camera crews, photographers and journalists were setting up shop, watching a group of Zuma supporters toyi-toying and singing.

Heavily-armed police were keeping a close watch and roads around the court had been closed.

Traders throughout the square were seen with their skottles braaing and selling boerewors, saying they needed an early start to make money.

The ANC Youth League earlier this week said they had planned a "huge party" because they were convinced that corruption and other charges against Zuma would be dropped.

Zuma faces a charge each of racketeering and money laundering, two charges of corruption and 12 charges of fraud related to the multi-billion rand government arms deal.

He was charged in 2005, but that case was struck from the roll in 2006. He was re-charged in December 2007.

A charge of racketeering and two counts of corruption are also faced by two Thint companies - Thint Holding (Southern Africa) Pty Ltd and Thint (Pty) Ltd - the South African subsidiaries of the French arms manufacturer Thales International (formerly Thomson-CFS).

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- SAPA