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'We Must Stop the Zuma Trial' |
| Publication |
Cape Argus |
| Date | 2008-06-01 |
| Reporter | Nomfundo Mcetywa |
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Web Link |
The MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Bheki Cele, has asked the ANC's
eThekwini region to adopt a motion calling on the ANC to
stop the fraud and corruption charges against its president, Jacob Zuma.
In a week in which a High Court judge has been cited as interfering in the Zuma
appeal process, Cele added political pressure for the charges to be dropped, as
they were nothing more than a "gruesome political vendetta".
Speaking on Saturday at the fourth regional conference of the ANC's eThekwini
region at the Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, Cele said, "The
time has come for us to make a call that the so-called trial of JZ (Zuma) should
be squashed, crashed, nullified and find no passage in the judicial system of
this country," said Cele to the thunderous applause of more than 1 000
delegates.
"We say this because we believe that Comrade JZ has been subjected to one of the
most gruesome political vendettas, and methods used up to this point, including
the Scorpions, do not instil confidence that he will get a fair trial," said
Cele.
If the eThekwini region adopts a resolution calling for Zuma's charges to be
dropped, the region has the power to sway the province - which could lead to the
province adopting this resolution at next month's congress.
Zuma's allies, the ANC Youth League, Cosatu and the SACP have also called for
the charges against Zuma to be dropped.
Last month Cosatu announced it had set up a task team to organise mass action in
KwaZulu-Natal aimed at putting pressure on the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)
to drop the charges.
ANC spokeswoman Jessie Duarte said Cele, as a member of the NEC, had the
authority to call for Zuma's charges to be dropped, as the
case had been going on for far too long *1.
University of KwaZulu-Natal law expert, Robin Palmer, said what Cele was
proposing was no different from President Thabo Mbeki's interference in the
arrest of National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi.
"You cannot interfere with the independence of the courts.
"The only person who has the authority to withdraw the
charges is acting head of the NPA, Mokotedi Mpshe, acting on the advice of
Shamilla Batohi *2.
However, if he drops the charges he will be seen to be bowing to the
political pressure of the ANC," said Palmer.
Cele's call to support Zuma could also be seen as an attempt to regain the
support of regional members who backed his secretary, John Mchunu, unanimously
electing him as the new chairman of the Thekwini region on Saturday. Stanley
Xulu was elected as deputy chairman, Sibusiso Sibiya as secretary and Zandile
Gumede was re-elected as the region's treasurer.
Only one position remains to be contested, that of deputy secretary. Former
council Speaker Nomusa Dube, now a diplomat in the Czech Republic, is expected
to assume the position.
Cele and Mchunu fiercely led the powerful region in campaigning for Zuma to be
elected ANC president.
However, since Polokwane, relations between the two are said to have soured,
with Mchunu accused of plotting to oust Cele.
* This article was originally published on page 2 of The Sunday Tribune on
June 01, 2008
With acknowledgements to Nomfundo Mcetywa and Cape Argus.