Publication: Sapa Issued: Pietermaritzburg Date: 2006-07-31 Reporter: Sapa Reporter:

Zuma Trial Adjourned to Sept 5

 

Publication 

Sapa
BC-COURT-4TH-LD-ZUMA

Issued

Pietermaritzburg
Date 2006-07-31

Reporter

Sapa

 

Jacob Zuma's corruption trial was adjourned until September 5 after a short session at the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Monday.

Judge Herbert Msimang did not accept state prosecutor Wim Trengove's assertion that it should be postponed till September 7 because colleague Anton Steynberg would be overseas at a conference.

"This matter we all know has an influence on our society. You say it must be held over because somebody is attending a conference abroad?" he asked disbelievingly *1.

Zuma left the court and went down to the crowd outside who erupted into song, jumping up and down to the song "Izinganizoma."

In addition to his bodyguards, he was flanked by Congress of SA Trade Unions general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, African National Congress general secretary Kgalema Motlanthe, KwaZulu-Natal premier S'bu Ndebele, former ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni and SA Communist Party president Blade Nzimande.

Vavi said: "It is regrettable that this cannot proceed, we cannot understand this diversion. They had six years of investigation... it's crazy."

National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Makhosini Nkosi said: "It would obviously put more pressure on the prosecution team which already has a lot to deal with but we understand and respect the judge's decision."

Zuma faces two charges of corruption.

His co-accused, the arms company Thint, is accused of having offered him a bribe of R500,000 a year in exchange for his silence during a probe into the country's multi-billion rand arms deal.

With acknowledgement to Sapa.


*1       Me asks : Is there a great difference between Tuesday 5 September and Thursday 7 September?

Whatever, the State gets a further five weeks to prepare it's case. Then there'll be another two weeks for argument and another for a ruling and so two months is gained by them.

If the Bloodhound and colleagues could just work a little faster this trial could start in the 4th quarter of 2006.

Normally getting hounds to work faster involves the furnishing of treats - and the application of more hounds. Might be the time for that.