Court: Zuma's case 'not urgent'
2003-09-15 19:46
Pretoria - The Pretoria High Court has dismissed with costs an urgent application by Deputy President Jacob Zuma to obtain a document allegedly implicating him in bribery.
Judge Jerry Shongwe struck the matter off the roll on Monday on the basis that it was not urgent, saying a date could be arranged on the ordinary court roll.
"No doubt the matter has attracted great public interest, but it does not necessarily make it urgent," he said.
Zuma has brought his urgent application against the National Director of Public Prosecutions, the National Prosecuting Authority and the Scorpions detective unit.
It sought to obtain the original hand-written encrypted French version of a fax allegedly implicating him for securing a bribe of R500 000 a year from a company involved in the country's multi-billion rand arms deal.
Shongwe said Zuma's counsel had made the point that he was being tried in the court of public opinion and needed to defend himself.
It was also contended on Zuma's behalf that the media and the public in general had already decided his fate, the judge said.
But Zuma had long known about allegations regarding his alleged involvement in irregularities and about the fax. The deputy president did not regard the matter as urgent before.
"Even in the face of publicity, he did not approach the court for an interdict or restraining order against whoever is involved in the matter," Shongwe said
In his founding affidavit, Zuma failed to address the question why he would not be afforded sufficient redress through a hearing in due course, Shongwe said.
"I am not persuaded that the applicant (Zuma) has made out a case for urgency in his founding affidavit. The matter is struck off the roll for lack of urgency."
The judge recommended that counsel approach the registrar of the court for a date to be heard.
- SAPA