Politicians welcome NPA decision

Political parties across the spectrum have welcomed the decision by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to charge former deputy president Jacob Zuma on two counts of corruption, saying it will give him his long-awaited "day in court".

Briefing the media in Pretoria, NPA spokesman Makhosini Nkosi said the authority's head, Vusi Pikoli, had told Zuma he had decided to bring criminal charges "against his person".

He had yet to be told when he would be required to appear in court.

DA leader Tony Leon said the move was in line with the judgment handed down by Justice Hilary Squires in the trial of businessman Schabir Shaik, Zuma's former financial adviser, and 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 because of the legal processes that will be set in motion," Leon said.

"Since Jacob Zuma has consistently maintained and demanded his day in court, we trust he will welcome the NPA's decision, as his wish has now been granted."

Judge Squires found there had been a "generally corrupt" relationship between Zuma and Shaik.

Approached for comment on the NPA's decision, Shaik declined. "No comment," he said politely.

ANC spokesman Smuts Ngonyama was in a meeting late yesterday afternoon and not available for comment.

Another spokesman for the ANC, Steyn Speed, said, however: "We have no immediate response."

Zizi Kodwa, spokesman for the ANC Youth League, said the NPA's decision was what Zuma had wanted all along.

"This will give Zuma the chance to explain his side of the story." Zuma had been found guilty by the media and the public, but under the law he remained innocent and the "impartial courts" would give Zuma the opportunity he deserved.

"(We and) the deputy president have been crying for three years now for this opportunity in court," Kodwa said.

The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) also welcomed Zuma's being given an opportunity to defend himself in court, but warned against appointing a judge from a "controversial" background.

"We hope that in appointing a judge, the authorities will be sensitive to some of the issues raised during the Shaik trial and not select a judge with a controversial background," it said.

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," he said.

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 "no one is above the law", Holomisa said.

The SA Communist Party said although it was saddened at this turn of events, "we believe that this step is now logical and necessary".

"We trust that a court trial will shed light and bring finality to this matter," it said.

"Comrade Zuma has consistently said that he wants his day in court. We trust that the NPA will move expeditiously and fairly and that a credible judicial process will take place."

The ID said it had faith in the judiciary and the belief that if there was sufficient evidence against Zuma the NPA would bring him to trial.

"We believe wholeheartedly in the rule of law and are quite certain that Mr Zuma will receive a fair trial regardless of the senior position he held in government," the ID said.

The African Christian Democratic Party's spokesman on justice, Steve Swart MP, said any other decision would have flown in the face of the government, considering its commitment to fighting corruption and fraud.

"The public requires an explanation from the former deputy president in view of the finding made against him by Judge Hilary Squires in the Schabir Shaik trial, that he and Shaik had a 'generally corrupt' relationship," Swart said.

Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Mulder agreed that the decision would give Zuma a chance to state his side of the story. "It would have been untenable for Mr Zuma and the country if he had not been prosecuted."

With acknowledgement to the Cape Times.