On Thursday, the chairperson of the Jacob Zuma Trust Fund, Don Mkhwanazi, hit out at suggestions that Zuma's trial would be delayed for another six months, saying "justice delayed is justice denied".

Mkhwanazi, who heads the trust established to mobilise funds for the defence of Zuma, was reacting to reports that the state had filed papers with the High Court seeking postponement of the trial.

Mkhwanazi, who was speaking in his personal capacity as he had not yet consulted the trust fund's board of trustees, said if one looked at the constitution in terms of upholding human rights, it was clear Zuma's rights had been violated.

"You have a situation where Zuma was investigated for five years without being charged. Someone else was found guilty (Shabir Shaik) and a judge in that trial found Zuma guilty without letting him state his position.

"Then he is relieved of his position because of that and then he is charged. Now, after this time you say no, no I am not ready to proceed. Clearly here somebody is impinging on Zuma's rights," said Mkhwanazi.

He suggested it was bizarre now that the state was asking for six more months. "They need this time to find evidence that will stick and stand the scrutiny of the court."

He charged that a culture of impunity was allowed to continue in this case without due regard for justice.

This article was originally published on page 2 of The Mercury on July 21, 2006

With acknowledgements to Sipho Khumalo and Independent On Line.