Publication: The Star Issued: Date: 2005-11-16 Reporter: Moshoeshoe Monare Reporter: Nalisha Kalideen Reporter:

Shaik Appeal 'Won't Affect Zuma' 

 

Publication 

The Star
Date 2005-11-16

Reporter

 Moshoeshoe Monare,
Nalisha Kalideen

 

The National Prosecuting Authority says Schabir Shaik being granted leave to apply to appeal against a corruption charge will "not in any way" affect its case against Jacob Zuma.

"The NPA anticipated they would have to defend their case against Shaik and are quite prepared to do so," spokesperson Makhosini Nkosi told The Star last night.

Judge Hilary Squires found Shaik guilty on two counts of corruption and one of fraud this year and sentenced him to 15 years on each of the corruption counts and three years on the fraud count, the sentences to run concurrently.

Yesterday, the Supreme Court of Appeal allowed Shaik leave to appeal against the charge of corruption relating to the supposed "generally corrupt" relationship between Shaik and former deputy president Jacob Zuma.

David Unterhalter, head of the law school at the University of the Witwatersrand, said that if Shaik won an appeal it would have a major bearing on Zuma's corruption trial.

"Zuma is, in a sense, the other party in the corrupt relationship so it would be hugely influential on the outcome, on the assumption that there is not very different evidence," Unterhalter told Sapa.

Meanwhile, the ANC Women's League (ANCWL) has called for violators of women's rights to be punished and for rape allegations against Zuma to be properly investigated. 

The only defence the ANCWL mounted for Zuma was that his name was splashed in the media contrary to his constitutional rights, and that it viewed him as innocent until proven guilty.

But, said the league, it viewed the allegations in a "serious light".

"We believe this allegation is serious in nature and requires proper investigation so that the facts are established, appropriate action is taken and the matter is laid to rest."

Yesterday, Zuma - in a statement released through his lawyer Michael Hulley - again strongly denied the rape allegations.

"Mr Zuma repeats his denial of the allegations in the strongest possible terms and denies further that he has engaged in any conduct which might compromise any investigation into these allegations.

"We acknowledge the law enforcement agencies as the appropriate organ to investigate allegations of such a serious nature.

"We have taken the view not to respond to claims by unofficial and undisclosed sources, lest it have, as its result, the undermining of the rule of law and confidence in the criminal justice system," Hulley's statement said.

With acknowledgement to Moshoeshoe Monare, Nalisha Kalideen and The Star.