Cape Town — SA’s opposition parties yesterday welcomed the decision to prosecute former deputy president Jacob Zuma, saying that Zuma had repeatedly claimed that he had not been tried in court and now he would get his chance.

Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon said the decision by national director of public prosecutions Vusi Pikoli to prosecute on two counts of corruption was in line with the judgment in the Schabir Shaik trial and President Thabo Mbeki’s decision to remove Zuma from office.

“Since Jacob Zuma has consistently maintained and demanded his day in court, we trust he will welcome the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA’s) decision, as his wish has now been granted,” Leon said. “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.”

Independent Democrats (ID) leader Patricia de Lille said the decision to prosecute Zuma showed there was reason for the NPA to reopen the previous investigation into allegations of corruption in the multibillion-rand arms deal.

An earlier joint investigation by the NPA, public protector and auditor-general, brought about after De Lille’s urging, did not recommend prosecuting anyone.

“The ID has always insisted that Zuma be charged because we believe people are innocent until proven guilty.”

She said the ID had faith in the judiciary, and believed Zuma would get a fair trial.

Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Mulder said it would have been an “untenable situation” for Zuma and the country had he not been prosecuted.

“The question still remains why Mr Zuma was not charged together with Mr Shaik,” Mulder said.

Former national director of public prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka announced in 2003 that a prima facie case could be made against Zuma. “Had he then already been charged, the total cost would have been substantially less than it is now and the case would have been finalised,” said Mulder.

He said he hoped “politics and the struggle for succession did not play a role in the decision of the NPA to prosecute Mr Zuma”.

United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa welcomed the decision.

Holomisa said he hoped that the prosecution would go a long way to satisfying Zuma.

The former deputy president, while proclaiming he had not had his day in court had also not taken the nation into his confidence, Holomisa said.

“That hour has now arrived for him,” Holomisa said.

The leader said that he hoped Zuma’s followers would also be satisfied as this was what they had been demanding, that Zuma get an opportunity to put his side of the story.

Attempts to reach Inkatha Freedom Party spokesman Musa Zondi were unsuccessful.

With acknowledgements to Wyndham Hartley and the Business Day.