Decision greeted with mixed reactions from parties

The National Prosecuting Authority's decision to prosecute former deputy president Jacob Zuma is what Zuma wanted, the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) said yesterday. "This will give Zuma the opportunity to explain his side of the story," ANCYL spokesman Zizi Kodwa said.

The South African Communist Party (SACP) said the party was convinced that logic and necessary steps have been taken. The party's spokesman, Kaizer Mohau, said it trusted that a court trial would shed light and bring finality to this matter. "The NPA should have taken the decision two years ago when the NPA announced that there was a prima facie case against Zuma."

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) yesterday welcomed Zuma being given the opportunity to defend himself in court but warned against appointing a judge from a "controversial" background. Cosatu reaffirmed its position against corruption and the misuse of power. "It also reaffirms its strong belief that anyone is innocent until proven guilty, and condemns any attempt to discredit anyone who has anyone who has not been convicted of any offence."

Schabir Shaik, that man whose trial say former deputy president Jacob Zuma implicated in fraud and corruption, declined to comment on yesterday's decision to prosecute Zuma. "No comment," Shaik told Sapa politely by telephone after the National Prosecuting Authority's announcement that Zuma would appear in court in Durban later this week to face corruption charges.

The Independent Democrats said yesterday it was certain former deputy president Jacob Zuma will receive a fair trial. "The Independent Democrats has faith in the judiciary and the belief that if there was sufficient evidence against Jacob Zuma, the NPA would proceed by bringing Zuma to trial," a statement said. "We believe wholeheartedly in the rule of law and are quite certain that Mr Zuma will receive a fair trial regardless of he senior position he held in government."

Zuma owes the public an explanation following the Schabir Shaik trial, African Christian Democratic Party MP and justice spokesman Steve Swart said yesterday. Welcoming the National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) decision to charge Zuma on two counts of corruption, Swart said any other decision made on the matter would have flown in the face of government's commitment to fight corruption and fraud.

The decision to prosecute Zuma on two charges of corruption will afford the sacked deputy president an opportunity to state his side of the issue, says the Freedom Front Plus. "It would have been an untenable situation for Mr Zuma and the country as a whole if he had not been prosecuted," FF Plus leader Pieter Mulder said in a statement yesterday.

Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon said the decision was in line with the judgment handed down by Justice Hilary Squires in the Schabir Shaik trial, as well as with President Thabo Mbeki's decision to remove Zuma from office. "Politically, this decision is deeply significant, as it will effectively mean that Mr Zuma may now be incapable of playing any major political leadership role due to the various legal processes that will now be set in motion."

United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa said Zuma should now be "the happiest man on earth. This will give him the opportunity to prove his innocence". The courts held the last word on Zuma's future, "and hopefully the NPA's decision will help his supporters shut their mouths and wait for (the) outcome of the courts". The decision by the NPA sent a strong and unequivocal message to all people in South Africa that "nobody is above the law", Holomisa said.

With acknowledgement to the Sowetan.