South Africa’s Jacob Zuma, president until Wednesday when he
resigned on live TV, faces an uncertain future as his legal
challenges mount and his support network crumbles.
Analysts sketch several scenarios for Zuma, an anti-apartheid
activist who rose to the presidency only to become thickly tarred
by a reputation for graft.
These include prosecution over a series of corruption charges
and then securing a presidential clemency from his successor, Cyril
Ramaphosa.
He may also quietly disappear into retirement in his home
province of Kwa-Zulu Natal — or even skip the country, according to
these narratives.
Zuma faces 18 criminal charges over 783 payments he received
linked to a multi-billion rand 1990s arms deal, and the clamour for
him to face justice has been growing in recent months.
The charges were set aside just weeks before he became president
in 2009. It will now be down to the National Director of
Prosecutions to decide whether to reinstate them.
A court recently ruled that the Zuma-appointed chief prosecutor
Shaun Abrahams — dubbed “Shaun the Sheep” by media — is compromised
and must be replaced.
Ramaphosa’s choice of successor could directly influence the
outcome of the decision on whether the charges against Zuma are
revived.
Zuma may also face charges over state corruption arising from
his links to a controversial Indian business family, the
Guptas.
“We are looking at a very awkward, troublesome and uncertain
period for Zuma as he defends himself on all these fronts,”
commentator Daniel Silke said.
If convicted, Zuma could face decades in jail. Zuma previously
spent 10 years in jail on the notorious Robben Island between 1963
and 1973 after being convicted by the apartheid regime of
conspiring to overthrow the government.
If Zuma is prosecuted and convicted, the next question is
whether Ramaphosa would intervene to pardon the erstwhile
president.
On one hand, Zuma was a celebrated anti-apartheid struggle
figure who was close to Nelson Mandela and still has huge support —
especially in the ANC’s rural heartlands.
On the other, a pardon could taint Ramaphosa’s clean-hands image
and give the opposition a stick with which to beat the ANC. General
elections are due in 2019.
“Nobody is above the law, even if you are the president. There
is no immunity,” said constitutional law expert, Pierre de Vos.
But as sitting president, Ramaphosa “can pardon anyone who has
been convicted of a crime,” he said.
With backroom deals being a well-worn feature of South African
politics, in return for a quiet departure, Zuma, 75, could have
received assurances that he will not be prosecuted or pursued in
his elder years.
In that case, it is most likely that he would retreat to his
rural Nkandla farmstead in rural Kwa-Zulu Natal in the country’s
east.
He could even, after a time, be rehabilitated as a benign
national father figure like his two living predecessors Thabo Mbeki
and Kgalema Motlanthe.
South African media has reported that Zuma’s sons have extensive
business interests in Dubai and have received personal guarantees
from the UAE’s leaders.
In June, the Citizen newspaper published a story headlined
“United Arab Emirates a safe haven for SA fugitives hoping to avoid
extradition.”
That would mean that Zuma and his family would likely be beyond
the reach of South African prosecutors in the sunny emirate.
But analysts predict he will not head abroad.
“Why would Jacob Zuma, who says he has done nothing wrong, want
to flee the country?” asked Silke.
“It would be an unpatriotic act not to face the law of the
country, especially for a former president.”
At the heart of many scandals surrounding Zuma are the Guptas,
whose wealth and influence are huge. However, the family’s power
has been shaken in recent days.
Police this week raided the palatial family home in Johannesburg
making several arrests and issued a further warrant for family
linchpin, Ajay. (AFP)
South Africa’s Jacob Zuma, president until Wednesday when he
resigned on live TV, faces an uncertain future as his legal
challenges mount and his support network crumbles.
Analysts sketch several scenarios for Zuma, an anti-apartheid
activist who rose to the presidency only to become thickly tarred
by a reputation for graft.
These include prosecution over a series of corruption charges
and then securing a presidential clemency from his successor, Cyril
Ramaphosa.
He may also quietly disappear into retirement in his home
province of Kwa-Zulu Natal — or even skip the country, according to
these narratives.
Zuma faces 18 criminal charges over 783 payments he received
linked to a multi-billion rand 1990s arms deal, and the clamour for
him to face justice has been growing in recent months.
The charges were set aside just weeks before he became president
in 2009. It will now be down to the National Director of
Prosecutions to decide whether to reinstate them.
A court recently ruled that the Zuma-appointed chief prosecutor
Shaun Abrahams — dubbed “Shaun the Sheep” by media — is compromised
and must be replaced.
Ramaphosa’s choice of successor could directly influence the
outcome of the decision on whether the charges against Zuma are
revived.
Zuma may also face charges over state corruption arising from
his links to a controversial Indian business family, the
Guptas.
“We are looking at a very awkward, troublesome and uncertain
period for Zuma as he defends himself on all these fronts,”
commentator Daniel Silke said.
If convicted, Zuma could face decades in jail. Zuma previously
spent 10 years in jail on the notorious Robben Island between 1963
and 1973 after being convicted by the apartheid regime of
conspiring to overthrow the government.
If Zuma is prosecuted and convicted, the next question is
whether Ramaphosa would intervene to pardon the erstwhile
president.
On one hand, Zuma was a celebrated anti-apartheid struggle
figure who was close to Nelson Mandela and still has huge support —
especially in the ANC’s rural heartlands.
On the other, a pardon could taint Ramaphosa’s clean-hands image
and give the opposition a stick with which to beat the ANC. General
elections are due in 2019.
“Nobody is above the law, even if you are the president. There
is no immunity,” said constitutional law expert, Pierre de Vos.
But as sitting president, Ramaphosa “can pardon anyone who has
been convicted of a crime,” he said.
With backroom deals being a well-worn feature of South African
politics, in return for a quiet departure, Zuma, 75, could have
received assurances that he will not be prosecuted or pursued in
his elder years.
In that case, it is most likely that he would retreat to his
rural Nkandla farmstead in rural Kwa-Zulu Natal in the country’s
east.
He could even, after a time, be rehabilitated as a benign
national father figure like his two living predecessors Thabo Mbeki
and Kgalema Motlanthe.
South African media has reported that Zuma’s sons have extensive
business interests in Dubai and have received personal guarantees
from the UAE’s leaders.
In June, the Citizen newspaper published a story headlined
“United Arab Emirates a safe haven for SA fugitives hoping to avoid
extradition.”
That would mean that Zuma and his family would likely be beyond
the reach of South African prosecutors in the sunny emirate.
But analysts predict he will not head abroad.
“Why would Jacob Zuma, who says he has done nothing wrong, want
to flee the country?” asked Silke.
“It would be an unpatriotic act not to face the law of the
country, especially for a former president.”
At the heart of many scandals surrounding Zuma are the Guptas,
whose wealth and influence are huge. However, the family’s power
has been shaken in recent days.
Police this week raided the palatial family home in Johannesburg
making several arrests and issued a further warrant for family
linchpin, Ajay. (AFP)
Read more https://nairalaw.com/zuma-faces-18-criminal-charges-on-multi-billion-rand-payments-for-arms-deal/