Publication: Cape Times Issued: Date: 2009-01-19 Reporter: Sapa

ANC to Release Statement on Zuma's Case

 

Publication 

Cape Times

Date

2009-01-19

Reporter Sapa
Web Link www.capetimes.co.za


The ANC's National Working Committee completed a meeting on Jacob Zuma's corruption case by 7.15pm on Monday.

ANC spokesperson Carl Niehaus told Sapa
a statement on the matter would be issued on Tuesday.

Earlier, he said the party's top leadership would discuss the ANC president's legal options after the recent Supreme Court of Appeal ruling in favour of the National Director of Public Prosecutions.

"We are actually very open to say that it is on the agenda," said Niehaus.

He said the ANC was searching for a "legal solution" to the pending charges against Zuma.

The SCA last week overturned a Pietermaritzburg High Court ruling that in effect had halted Zuma's prosecution on charges of corruption, fraud, money laundering and racketeering.

The charges against Zuma create a difficult situation for the ANC, which has insisted he remain its presidential candidate ahead of general elections this year.

Zuma, whose lawyers have met with the National Prosecution Authority since the SCA ruling, had several legal options available, including an appeal to the Constitutional Court and an application for a permanent stay of prosecution.

Zuma's
legal woes were not the only topic on the NWC's agenda.

Niehaus said the committee had also discussed weekend newspaper reports of tensions between President Kgalema Motlanthe and some ANC leaders.

The Sunday Times reported that some senior ANC members were
unhappy with several decisions Motlanthe had taken since succeeding Thabo Mbeki, who was ousted after the Pietermaritzburg High Court implied that he was involved in a political plot against Zuma.

The City Press reported that SACP secretary-general
Blade Nzimande was eyeing the position of deputy president of the country after general elections. Up to now, many believed Motlanthe had been earmarked for that job.

The City Press claimed several sources had confirmed there was a group within the ANC opposed to Motlanthe becoming Zuma's deputy president.

"These are really just rumours, but we want to deal with it comprehensively, in the sense of putting an end to it. We believe we need to talk with the authority of the NWC," said Niehaus.

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With acknowledgements to Sapa and Cape Times.



Every South African had good reason to be scared, very scared, of a Zuma presidency.

With Nzimande as number two this fear can escalate to pure simple terror.