Publication: Sunday Independent Issued: Date: 2008-01-06 Reporter: Jeremy Gordin Reporter: Sapa

Zuma Tells Supporters to Stay Calm

 

Publication 

Sunday Independent

Date

2008-01-06
Reporter Jeremy Gordin, Sapa

Web Link

www.sundayindependent.co.za

 

Cosatu backs down on 'blood in streets' threat if ANC's new president is dragged into court on corruption charges

Jacob Zuma, the president of the ANC, has called on people to remain calm and disciplined in the wake of the national prosecuting authority re-charging him with corruption and charging him for the first time with racketeering.

And Arthur Chaskalson, the former chief justice, and George Bizos, an eminent advocate, have jointly called on the public to respect the country's judiciary and not criticise the courts in connection with the Zuma case.

"We don't want to have the kind of thing we are seeing in Kenya," said Zuma on Friday night, soon after meeting the ANC's five other senior officials in Johannesburg in preparation for tomorrow's first meeting of the organisation's new national executive committee (NEC).

The four-charge *1 indictment, served on Zuma three days after Christmas and a week after he was elected president of the ruling political party, sparked widespread anger among his supporters, especially those in the ranks of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the ANC Youth League.

Zet Luzipho, the Cosatu leader in KwaZulu-Natal, said on Thursday that blood would be spilled and the country thrown into chaos if Zuma were forced to appear in court.

His statement was "withdrawn" on Friday by Patrick Craven, Cosatu's national spokesman, who said that Cosatu members would not resort to violence.

Zuma supporters are angry about the timing of the serving of the indictment - delivered to Zuma between Christmas and New Year - and have remained adamant that his prosecution is a plot to quash his presidential aspirations.

Zuma supporters have also argued that the way in which the case has been handled since 2004 has robbed Zuma of his right to a fair trial.

"On no account should there be any violence or burning of property, or anything like that, because of these charges against me. I know why people are so angry on my behalf. But there are other ways, legal ways, with which to deal with such matters," said Zuma.

He said he had discussed the charges against him and Thint on Friday afternoon with Kgalema Motlanthe, the ANC's deputy president, Baleka Mbete, the party's chairman, Gwede Mantashe, its secretary-general, Thandi Modise, its deputy secretary-general, and Mathews Phosa, the party's treasurer. Zuma said they had been preparing for tomorrow's NEC meeting and the coming week's celebration of the ANC's 96th birthday.

"As for the indictment, you can expect the NEC to make a statement about it after tomorrow's meeting. It's not for me to say anything. It's the call of the NEC - and I am sure they will do and say what they are required to."

Zuma's innocence or guilt should be decided by the courts and not by the rhetoric of his detractors or supporters, Chaskalson and Bizos said this week.

In an unusual step in the legal world, they issued a signed statement saying: "We are concerned at the tone of the debate around the contemplated trial of Mr Jacob Zuma."

Chaskalson and Bizos emphasised that they did not want to say anything about whether Zuma should have been charged, or about the substance or lack of it of the charges against him.

They were concerned with only one issue, they said, "and that is the implication from some of the statements that our judiciary as a whole lacks the independence and integrity to ensure that Mr Zuma will receive a fair trial".

This was harmful to the judicial process, constitutional democracy and the country's reputation, they said.

Chaskalson and Bizos appealed to all political leaders and their supporters, opinion makers, commentators and the media to let the courts decide the issues.

"We are confident they will do so without fear or favour."

They said an example of the integrity of the judiciary being called into question was when a Cosatu spokesman reportedly said: "It does not matter who the judge is, we do not believe the judiciary will be able to be objective.

"The trial against Zuma is a politically motivated exercise ... he has been subjected to trial by public opinion for the past seven years. We have been convinced for some time that he will not get a fair trial ... workers will not allow the NPA and whoever is handling [it] to abuse its power in this matter."

Craven yesterday denied that Cosatu was questioning the independence of the judiciary. "We are defending the independence of the judiciary against what we perceive are attempts to manipulate [it] for political ends," he said.

A lawyer associated with the Zuma case said: "I have no idea why Chaskalson and Bizos have made a statement. They are not connected with this business; they are not in the loop any more. If the chief justice wanted to make a statement, that would be fine. But it's not the business of two old fogeys *2."

With acknowledgements to Jeremy Gordin, Sapa and Sunday Independent.


*1`     Strange - the Indictment that I've seen refers to 18 counts, 16 of which apply to Accused 1 and two of which apply to Accused 2 and Accused 3 only. Accused 1 also has a further two sub-count against him.

In all, 10 of these counts attract a minimum sentence of 15 years.

There are also 5 different types of charges :
*2      Judges are judges for life and so this is probably contempt.

Also Bizos still practises as a senior counsel and fairly recently has represented Mandela.