Publication: Sapa Issued: Pretoria Date: 2005-11-16 Reporter: Sapa

Zuma to Ask for Return of Items Seized

 

Publication 

Sapa
BC-ZUMA-WARRANTS

Date

2005-11-16

Issued

Pretoria

Reporter

 Sapa

 

An application for the return of items seized during raids on several premises linked to former deputy president Jacob Zuma is likely to be heard in the Durban High Court next month *1.

The case was likely to be hard (sic) *2 on December 1 or 2, "but we should have confirmation of the date by (next) Monday," Zuma's lawyer Michael Hulley said on Wednesday.

Zuma would ask the court to set aside the warrants used by the Scorpions special investigating unit to carry out the search and seizure operations, and for the return of all items taken.

The premises targeted in August included two of Zuma's Johannesburg residences, one in Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal, and Hulley's offices in Durban.

Zuma has been charged with two counts of corruption following the conviction of his financial adviser Schabir Shaik on charges related to a "generally corrupt relationship" between the two men.

Hulley said there were no plans as yet to bring any application for the charges against Zuma to be dropped.

"There are no applications pending, and there probably won't be for the next month or so."

The outcome of the application on the warrants should indicate the way forward, he said.

Zuma and Hulley, meanwhile, were by Wednesday still contemplating possible action against the Sunday Times newspaper for publishing rape allegations against the axed deputy president.

The newspaper reported at the weekend that Zuma was alleged to have raped a family friend at his Forest Town, Johannesburg, home on November 2.

The Star on Tuesday quoted "impeccable sources" as confirming that a complaint had been laid at the Johannesburg family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit of the police, and was being probed.

One source reportedly described the complaint as "flimsy, riddled with contradictions, and won't hold water".

The police have declined to comment on the matter.

With acknowledgements to Sapa.


*1  First skirmish proper in the technical tactical war of attrition to be waged over the next 8 months until Downer's Steynberg's and du Plooy's shock and awe opening on the 31 July 2006 (starting with a fresh "charge sheet").

If this was a game, I would say "let the games begin", but it's no longer a game.

*2  Hopefully a delicious Freudian type of slip.