Give Zuma his day in Court - DA

2004-10-04 16:56

Cape Town - Deputy President Jacob Zuma should be charged and given his day in court alongside Durban businessman Schabir Shaik, who goes on trial in the Durban High Court from Monday next week on fraud and corruption charges, the Democratic Alliance said on Monday.

The Scorpions' continued refusal to prosecute Zuma along with Shaik "becomes curiouser and curiouser", said DA justice spokesperson Sheila Camerer.

Further evidence against Zuma

Newspaper revelations at the weekend about the existence of a detailed forensic report compiled by auditing firm KPMG containing further evidence against Zuma showed that his involvement in the case was even less easy to simply shrug off, she said.

"The 45-page charge sheet is not new. It has been a public document since August last year and it implicates Zuma on virtually every page.

"It is clear that the KPMG report has added to the evidence that could prove the state's case and implicate Zuma.

'Scorpions mean business'

"The loss of their erstwhile national director notwithstanding, the vigour with which the Scorpions are investigating the matter shows they mean business.

"Besides the new report, apparently around a hundred witnesses have been lined up to give evidence.

"In the light of this it is becoming increasingly strange that Zuma is not charged and made to stand trial alongside Schabir Shaik," Camerer said.

- SAPA