Publication: Sapa
Issued: Durban
Date: 2005-10-12
Reporter: Sapa
| Publication |
Sapa
BC-COURT-2ND-LD-ZUMA
|
| Date |
2005-10-12
|
|
Issued
|
Durban
|
|
Reporter
|
Sapa |
Former deputy president Jacob Zuma's trial date has been
set for July 31 next year in the Durban High Court, the National Prosecuting
Authority (NPA) said on Wednesday.
"As the NPA we are
very pleased with this as it offers us what we wanted all the time --
which is enough time to prepare for this case,"
spokesman Makhosini Nkosi said.
The date was agreed on by the NPA and
Zuma's defence, and the Judge President of KwaZulu-Natal, Vuka
Tshabalala.
"This guarantees, or ensures Mr Zuma a speedy trial," Nkosi
said.
So far, Zuma faces two charges of contravening the Corruption Act,
brought after the conviction and sentencing of his former financial adviser
Schabir Shaik on fraud and corruption charges. Shaik is out on bail pending
appeal.
Zuma's attorney Michael Hulley said he was "perfectly happy" *1 with the trial date, "given the time
constraints and nature of the [court] roll".
He said the NPA would
deliver the indictment to his offices on November 2 and that Zuma would be
formally charged during a brief court appearance on November 12.
The
charges against Zuma relate to alleged bribery in exchange for protection during
the country's multi-million rand arms deal.
His second appearance in
Durban Magistrate's Court was adjourned on Tuesday with the agreement of the
State and the defence to allow the serving of an indictment on Zuma, to set a
trial date and to enable further investigation.
*1 Should also give the defendant's
legal team of seven advocates time to prepare by reading and re-reading every
legal rule book ever published.