Publication: Pretoria News Issued: Date: 2006-08-01 Reporter: Tania Broughton Reporter:

Only Mbeki Can Save Me...

 

Publication 

Pretoria News
Date 2006-08-01

Reporter

Tania Broughton

Web Link

www.pretorianews.co.za

 

Jacob Zuma says the man who sacked him - President Thabo Mbeki - could be the man to rescue him *1, if only the State would take a sworn statement from him.

In his affidavit filed in the Pietermaritzburg High Court yesterday, Zuma said he stood accused of writing a letter which, in fact, had been drafted by the President's office and which he had merely signed.

The letter in question was addressed to Gavin Woods, then chairman of the Parliamentary Standing committee on Public Accounts, in which it was stated that there was no need for the Heath Unit to investigate the arms deal.

The letter forms the basis for the corruption charge against Zuma relating to allegations that, in return for a bribe, he gave French Arms Company Thint "protection" against a probe into the arms deal.

Zuma says the letter was not drafted or composed by him but came from the President's office with instructions that he sign it.

"There can be little doubt that even the most superficial investigation must have revealed that to the prosecution.

"The prosecution knew this from the outset and knew, when it drafted the indictment in this case, that it would give a very clear impression that the composing and signature of that letter by me, were exactly what I got paid for."

He said he had discussed the outcome of the Shaik trial with Mbeki in June last year and had raised the fact that the court had been misinformed about the source of the letter. "He agreed with me and undertook to put things straight ... It again points to a major omission in the State's case if an objective investigation was done: (obtaining) a statement from the President."

Zuma pointed to the fact that Mbeki, who was deputy president at the time, had played a part in the arms deal process, which a Joint Investigation by the Auditor-General, the NPA and a parliamentary committee, had concluded was not tainted by corruption.

"Mbeki took an active interest and part in it and engaged with various role players. He has been scurrilously accused of being party to improprieties in this regard. I distance myself from these and condemn the accusations as false.

"However, he is a person who is ideally and obviously suited to depose to the absence of any corruption in the award process.

"And if he does, the prosecution must revisit and rethink the allegations that I was bribed to protect the French interests against exposure for corruption in the deal."

But, Zuma reiterated, Mbeki had not made a statement, nor was he on the witness list.

Zuma also placed his financial woes at the door of the "President's Office" saying preparation for the corruption trial had already "cost millions" and resources were running dry. However, he had been stonewalled in his efforts to get State assistance to pay his legal costs.

"The President's Office ultimately decides on this. In the recent past, Dr (Wouter) Basson, General (Magnus) Malan and others were assisted as officers of the State at the time of the alleged offences."

He had made a request for assistance months ago, the response being that the State Attorney would act as instructing attorney and fees for a specifically named senior and junior counsel would be provided.

"This was wholly unsatisfactory, the State Attorney had acted (against me) in the warrant applications and the counsel did not include any who have always acted for me. "My concerns have been raised with the State Attorney's office and the President's Office. So far these efforts have borne no fruit," said Zuma.

With acknowledgement to Tania Broughton and Pretoria News.

*1       Mbeki will have his plate full rescuing himself.

In any case, it matters not whether Zuma drafted the letter or not. He accepted its wording and signed it himself before causing it to be delivered to its recipient.

But that's still nothing. This letter is only supporting evidence that there was indeed a reason for him being bribed.

There is far more compelling evidence, primary evidence, that he accepted the bribe offer by means of an encoded signal in a secret meeting which is now known to have happened, but which he has denied. The bribe offer is clear and unambiguous, 500 kZAR per year until ADS starts paying dividends, to protect Thomson-CSF from investigation into irregularities in the SDP process.

Schabir Shaikh has testified, falsely it has been found by the trial judge, that the payment agreement was made, but it was in respect of a donation to the Jacob Zuma Education Trust. The trial judge has found that the first quarter of the money was paid by Thomson-CSF through its Mauritius office and the laundered through Nkobi Holdings by means of a false service provide agreement. Some of the bribe money ended up with Zuma himself. The rest fizzled out when the conspirators realised that they and their bank accounts were being watched by the NPA's investigators.

Mbeki can't save Zuma from these court-proven facts. In fact, no one could except for a crooked judge.