Publication: Sapa Issued: Johannesburg Date: 2006-11-06 Reporter: Sapa Reporter:

Verdict Does Not Mean Charge Zuma : Cosatu

 

Publication 

Sapa
BC-COSATU-SHAIK

Issued

Johannesburg
Date 2006-11-06

Reporter

Sapa

 

Schabir Shaik's failed appeal does not mean there is a stronger case against ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma or that he must be charged for corruption *1, the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) said on Monday.

Cosatu was reacting to the judgment handed down, earlier in the day, by the Supreme Court of Appeal against Shaik, Zuma's former financial adviser. Shaik's appeal against his fraud and corruption convictions were dismissed in a unanimous decision by the court.

"Zuma and Shaik are not the same person and each has a right to be tried completely independently," said Cosatu spokesman Patrick Craven.

"One person cannot be convicted in absentia on the basis of evidence against someone else. If there was any evidence against Jacob Zuma, then he should have been charged and tried separately."

Craven said a Pietermaritzburg High Court judge threw out the National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) case against Zuma in September for allegedly receiving bribes in connection with the arms deal because the state could not prosecute him.

"So to suggest that the dismissal of the Shaik appeal means that Zuma must automatically now be considered guilty and be prosecuted amounts to a malicious witch hunt."

Craven said the trade union called for everyone to accept the Pietermaritzburg High Court judgment,

* for Zuma to be treated like any other innocent citizen,

* for the immediate reinstatement of Zuma to the position of the deputy president of the country *2

* for the Scorpions to be incorporated into the SA Police Service under one commissioner *3,

* for a review of the activities and role of the NPA and other state agencies and

* for a full and impartial investigation into the arms deal *4.

If Shaik does not take further action and take the case to the Constitutional Court then the law must take its full course and he must serve his sentence, Craven said.

With acknowledgements to Sapa.


*1       Imbeciles.


*2      Imbeciles.


*3      Imbeciles.


*4      Geniuses.