Prosecutors studying Zuma again
2005-06-14 09:59
Johannesburg - The national prosecuting authority (NPA) is engaged in an "urgent, but extremely circumspect, in-depth study" into the possible prosecution of deputy president Jacob Zuma.
No one in the top ranks of the NPA wanted to talk to reporters on Monday about this investigation, but an authoritative and senior source at the head office of the department of justice said that the executive management of the NPA was studying the judgment in the trial of Schabir Shaik "in depth and with rapidity because a decision about prosecuting deputy president Zuma is unavoidable and simply must be taken".
He said, however, that it was not true that a decision concerning the prosecution would be taken on Tuesday at the weekly meeting of the executive committee of the NPA.
This committee comprises the director, Vusi Pikoli, the head of the Scorpions, advocate Leonard McCarthy, the head of prosecution services, advocate Jan Henning, the head of asset forfeiture, advocate Willie Hofmeyr, and the head of special services, Silas Ramaite.
What is true, the source said, is that the issue might be discussed "informally" on Tuesday. That is because top prosecutors in the NPA realised on the one hand that a decision had to be taken "urgently" about prosecuting Zuma, but on the other hand that the NPA would have "enormous problems", irrespective of the way the decision went.
"It has to be remembered that, besides the available facts against Zuma, the NPA has to take note of other circumstances such as the destructive political fall-out of a decision to prosecute. This extends wider than just Zuma's career.
"In the national interest, the NPA has to weigh the economic and security consequences of a decision to prosecute the deputy-president.
"Also bear in mind that the verdict in Shaik's trial is not the alpha and omega of a decision about prosecuting Zuma. Evidence in the Shaik trial cannot be submitted without any further ado as evidence against Zuma," the source said.
"Normally the NPA would wait until finality was obtained about an appeal by Shaik, but owing to the urgency of the situation and especially because it is in the national interest, this cannot be done in Zuma's case.
"There is already certain evidence, which everyone could see in the media, and other evidence that the public does not yet know about, of serious dissension about Zuma's position. Even the intelligence service seems to be divided into two camps. Such situations could hold catastrophic consequences for the country and the NPA would be stupid not to bear it in mind before making a final decision about prosecuting Zuma."
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