Publication	Sapa BC-4TH-LD-ZUMA
Date	2005-10-11
Issued	Durban
Reporter	Sapa

Former deputy president Jacob Zuma's lawyer, advocate Kessie Naidu, on Tuesday asked the Durban Magistrate's Court for a speedy trial for his client and for the serving of Zuma's indictment as soon as possible.

This came after prosecutor Billy Downer requested another postponement in Zuma's corruption case for further investigation to be conducted.

Downer also requested that the matter be moved to the Durban High Court and set down for November 1.

He told the court that if an indictment was served at this stage, it would not be the final one and that the State had the right to serve an indictment 10 days before a matter went to trial.

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.

At the start of proceedings, Zuma stood at one of the doors to the packed court room while the defence and prosecution argued over where he should sit.

Naidu asked that he be seated next to his group of lawyers so that they could take instructions from him as the case progressed.

"We want to spare Mr Zuma the ignominy of sitting in the accused box."

Replied Downer: "All accused are equal before the court." Zuma should not be treated differently, he submitted.

Magistrate Bilkesh Asmal ruled in Naidu's favour and a calm-looking Zuma sat next to one his lawyers, Mohamed Patel, also present at the Shaik trial.

Several high profile people were at the Durban Magistrate's Court for Zuma's appearance, including Congress of SA Trade Unions secretary-general Zwelinzima Vavi, KwaZulu-Natal premier S'bu Ndebele, African National Congress head of publicity Smuts Ngonyama, ANC secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe, former ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni, Mo Shaik and KwaZulu-Natal economic affairs MEC Zweli Mkhize.

Zuma is deputy president of the ANC.

As court proceedings began, hundreds of Zuma supporters could be heard singing and blowing vuvuzelas outside. Many had taken part in an all-night vigil in his support.

There was a heavy police presence in and around the court and only those with accreditation were allowed to enter the building. All other cases were delayed for two hours, until after proceedings in the Zuma matter.