Jacob Zuma to learn fate over Arms deal charges on Friday
Former president Jacob Zuma will know on Friday whether his fraud, corruption and money laundering charges from the late ’90s arms deal will proceed or not. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said the ruling will be handed down on Friday by the Pietermaritzburg High Court. NPA spokesperson Bulelwa Makeke said: “Ruling on Mr Zuma’s application of permanent stay of prosecution is on Friday, 11 October.”
The spokesperson of the NPA in KwaZulu-Natal Natasha Kara confirmed that the ruling on the matter will be handed down on Friday morning at the provincial high court.
The ruling follows a four-day hearing that took place in May this year where Zuma’s legal team, led by Advocate Muzi Sikhakhane SC, argued before a full bench that the case has been impacted by interference and undue delays.
However, the NPA argued that some of the delays should be solely blamed on Zuma.
The charges were dropped in 2009 by former acting NPA Director, Mokotedi Mpshe, citing political interference. They were later reinstated in March 2018, just weeks after the ANC recalled Zuma from the presidency.
What is confusing is that while the ruling is expected be handed down on Friday, Zuma is due in court next Tuesday on the same matter. In a media advisory issued by the Office of the Chief Justice, Zuma is scheduled to go back to court again on October 15. There is an assumption that this was a long-scheduled court appearance before Zuma applied for the permanent stay of prosecution. This is a developing story.
In other news – Analyst says Helen Zille return to DA could spell trouble for party
Former DA leader Helen Zille’s successful return into the party’s top leadership will signal the decline of the party and its heist by conservatives.
This is according to political analyst Ralph Mathekga, who said the current attacks on party leader Mmusi Maimane and Zille’s contest to be chairperson of the DA federal executive council would see the dwindling of the party’s support. Mathekga said Zille’s attack of Maimane’s vision and her close association with the views of the Institute of Race Relations meant that the current internal battles within the DA would escalate if she wins. Read more
Source: IOL
