Publication: Cape Times Issued: Date: 2006-07-27 Reporter: Boyd Webb Reporter: Reporter:

COSAS 'Will Down Pens' if Zuma Case is Postponed

 

Publication 

Cape Times
Date

2006-07-27

Reporter

 Boyd Webb

Web Link

www.capetimes.co.za

 

Johannesburg : An ANC-aligned student group yesterday threatened classroom boycotts if Jacob Zuma's corruption trial did not continue as scheduled on Monday, in the hope *1 that it would pressure the National Prosecuting Authority into not seeking a postponement *2.

The Congress of SA Students was speaking at a joint press conference with six other organisations, including the Young Communist League and ANC Youth League, under the umbrella of the Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA), here yesterday.

Cosas said that "even a Grade 10 learner will be able to be aware that the NPA at some point is being used for political infighting".

"We are prepared to put our pens down in ensuring that we support the (ANC) deputy president," Cosas secretary-general Buda Tsotetsi said.

It was hoped this would pressure the NPA not to "abuse the constitution *3" by delaying Zuma's trial, he said.

NPA spokesman Makhosini Nkosi confirmed that the State would seek a postponement on Monday and felt that the Cosas position was "unnecessary".

"The State for a number of reasons cannot proceed ... and these reasons will be dealt with in court," he said.

ANCYL president Fikile Mbalula tried to tone down Cosas's militancy and distanced the PYA from their comments.

While the PYA also demanded that the trial start on Monday, the calls to pressurise the NPA l and for the instigation of class boycotts came directly from resolutions taken at a recent Cosas congress, but was not the view of the PYA.

ANCYL secretary general Sihle Zikalala said the NPA has had 10 years to prepare for the trial *4 and so had no reason to call for a seven-month postponement as it was doing.

He denied that the demands for the trial's continuation was connected to the ANC congress in December 2007.

If the NPA is successful in postponing the case, Zuma's potentially damaging corruption trial would unfold in the run-up to the congress set to debate who President Thabo Mbeki's successor will be.

If the case resumes in March it will be only three months before the ANC's national policy conference, set for June or July next year.

With acknowledgements to Boyd Webb and Cape Times.


*1       Hope springing eternally.


*2      Acting without fear of favour.


*3      There are some among us who when it suits them appeal to the constitution or when it suits them to abuse the constitution.

In this case the NPA is bound by the constitution to act without fear of favour and therefore they are relying on a properly formulated application to the High Court to seek a properly motivated postponement in circumstances largely brought about by the Defendants.

*4      The initial searches and seizures were done in September or October 2001, less than five years ago. The latest searches and seizure were done during the last year.

These kids need every day they can in the arithmetic class and less time in the bulldusting class.