Former president Jacob Zuma appeared in court on Friday on
corruption charges over a multibillion-rand 1990s arms deal, with
the judge adjourning the case after a 15-minute hearing.
Zuma, 75, smiled broadly and gave a thumbs-up as he walked into
the Durban High Court building to take his seat in the dock just
seven weeks after he was forced to resign from office.
“This matter is adjourned until June 8,” judge Themba Sishi said
after being addressed by lawyers from both sides who confirmed that
Zuma would appeal against the decision to prosecute him.
Several hundred vocal Zuma supporters rallied outside to protest
against his prosecution, which could see him sent to jail if he is
found guilty on 16 charges of corruption, money laundering and
fraud.
“He might have made his own mistakes, but we say allow the old
man to retire in peace. It is a conspiracy, it’s politically
motivated,” pro-Zuma business manager Sphelele Ngwane, 29, told
AFP.
On Thursday night more than 100 ardent backers rallied in Albert
park in a gritty suburb of Durban to protest his innocence and
demand a halt to the prosecution.
“There is an unfairness in the judiciary,” warned bishop Timothy
Ngcobo, one of the organisers of Thursday’s gathering.
The protesters sang liberation-era songs including “Umshini
Wam”, meaning “Bring me my machine gun”, which Zuma often sang at
ANC rallies and gatherings.
Scandal-tainted office term
Police mounted a large security operation outside the court, but
the occasion remained peaceful early on Friday.
Zuma is accused of taking bribes from French arms maker Thales
over a contract worth several billion rand during his time as a
provincial economy minister and then deputy ANC president.
Thales, which supplied naval vessels as part of the deal, also
faces charges with corruption and a company representative appeared
in court alongside Zuma.
Zuma is accused of illicitly pocketing a total of R4 072 499.85
from 783 payments handled by Schabir Shaik, a businessman who acted
as his financial adviser.
Zuma, who came to power as president shortly after the charges
were first dropped in 2009, has always denied any wrongdoing.
Shaik was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2005 based on the
same accusations, but a much-criticised 2016 inquiry absolved Zuma
of any blame.
Zuma claimed that the inquiry proved that “not a single iota of
evidence (shows) that any of the money received by any of the
consultants was paid to any officials”.
Last month, prosecutions chief Shaun Abrahams – dubbed “Shaun
the Sheep” for his loyalty to Zuma during his presidency – ordered
that Zuma be charged with fraud, corruption and money
laundering.
The ANC forced Zuma from office in February largely due to his
mounting legal challenges and multiple corruption scandals, and it
has distanced itself from its former leader.
Zuma’s successor Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed to crack down on
government corruption, which he has admitted is a serious
problem.
Campaign groups are hoping that the case could set a benchmark
for allegedly corrupt leaders to face prosecutions, which are a
rarity on the African continent.
Agence France-Presse
Former president Jacob Zuma appeared in court on Friday on
corruption charges over a multibillion-rand 1990s arms deal, with
the judge adjourning the case after a 15-minute hearing.
Zuma, 75, smiled broadly and gave a thumbs-up as he walked into
the Durban High Court building to take his seat in the dock just
seven weeks after he was forced to resign from office.
“This matter is adjourned until June 8,” judge Themba Sishi said
after being addressed by lawyers from both sides who confirmed that
Zuma would appeal against the decision to prosecute him.
Several hundred vocal Zuma supporters rallied outside to protest
against his prosecution, which could see him sent to jail if he is
found guilty on 16 charges of corruption, money laundering and
fraud.
“He might have made his own mistakes, but we say allow the old
man to retire in peace. It is a conspiracy, it’s politically
motivated,” pro-Zuma business manager Sphelele Ngwane, 29, told
AFP.
On Thursday night more than 100 ardent backers rallied in Albert
park in a gritty suburb of Durban to protest his innocence and
demand a halt to the prosecution.
“There is an unfairness in the judiciary,” warned bishop Timothy
Ngcobo, one of the organisers of Thursday’s gathering.
The protesters sang liberation-era songs including “Umshini
Wam”, meaning “Bring me my machine gun”, which Zuma often sang at
ANC rallies and gatherings.
Scandal-tainted office term
Police mounted a large security operation outside the court, but
the occasion remained peaceful early on Friday.
Zuma is accused of taking bribes from French arms maker Thales
over a contract worth several billion rand during his time as a
provincial economy minister and then deputy ANC president.
Thales, which supplied naval vessels as part of the deal, also
faces charges with corruption and a company representative appeared
in court alongside Zuma.
Zuma is accused of illicitly pocketing a total of R4 072 499.85
from 783 payments handled by Schabir Shaik, a businessman who acted
as his financial adviser.
Zuma, who came to power as president shortly after the charges
were first dropped in 2009, has always denied any wrongdoing.
Shaik was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2005 based on the
same accusations, but a much-criticised 2016 inquiry absolved Zuma
of any blame.
Zuma claimed that the inquiry proved that “not a single iota of
evidence (shows) that any of the money received by any of the
consultants was paid to any officials”.
Last month, prosecutions chief Shaun Abrahams – dubbed “Shaun
the Sheep” for his loyalty to Zuma during his presidency – ordered
that Zuma be charged with fraud, corruption and money
laundering.
The ANC forced Zuma from office in February largely due to his
mounting legal challenges and multiple corruption scandals, and it
has distanced itself from its former leader.
Zuma’s successor Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed to crack down on
government corruption, which he has admitted is a serious
problem.
Campaign groups are hoping that the case could set a benchmark
for allegedly corrupt leaders to face prosecutions, which are a
rarity on the African continent.
Agence France-Presse
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