Publication: Cape Times Issued: Date: 2006-08-03 Reporter: Angela Quintal Reporter: Boyd Webb Reporter:

Presidency has Decided Not to Comment on Statements by Zuma, Mbeki Aides Say

 

Publication 

Cape Times
Date

2006-08-03

Reporter

 Angela Quintal, Boyd Webb

Web Link

www.capetimes.co.za

 

While top presidential aides remain mum about Thabo Mbeki being dragged into Jacob Zuma's trial on corruption charges, the president is on record as having said he does not see the need to be called as a witness.

He has also raised the question of the damage it might do to the office of the head of state if he is dragged into court.

In a rare newspaper interview in February, Mbeki was asked about news reports that the deputy leader of the ANC, Jacob Zuma, might call him as a defence witness at his trial on corruption charges.

Five months later, Zuma has claimed in an affidavit before the Pietermaritzburg High Court that Mbeki is one of the only people able to make it clear whether corruption was involved in the arms deal.

The affidavit refers, among other things, to a letter written in January 2001 to Gavin Woods, then-chairman of parliament's standing committee on public accounts, that said there was no need for the Heath Special Investigating Unit to investigate the arms deal.

The letter was signed by Zuma in his capacity as leader of government business.

Zuma says in his affidavit that he did not compose the letter. It had come from the president's office with instructions that he should sign it, he said.

Cosatu and the Independent Democrats have called this week for the Scorpions to investigate Mbeki's role in the arms deal, given questions raised about his meetings with German and French arms representatives during the procurement process.

Top Mbeki aides were not prepared to comment yesterday. Presidential spokesman Mukoni Ratshitanga would say only that the presidency had taken a decision not to comment on statements made by Zuma.

"The matter is sub judice as it's before the courts," he said.

In an interview with the Cape Times in February, Mbeki said: "If there is certain information in the hands of the government which would help the defence, certainly in terms of telling the truth - conveying the truth to the court - I think the government should co-operate with that, including the president."

Mbeki had not seen the need for him to appear in court as a witness, however.

"As I have heard this matter raised, the specific reason why for instance the president might be asked to come to court, I do not believe it requires that at all in reality."

Mbeki noted that director-general of the presidency Frank Chikane had said that if anyone had asked him about the letter to Woods, he would have explained its origins.

"It is a very simple matter and straightforward. That particular communication says: 'The president and I have decided *1 as follows.' If they ask us now, to supply this information ... It would not be a problem."

Noting that British opposition MPs did not criticise their prime minister outside the UK, Mbeki said: "However much they might hate the prime minister, this office is important. If we diminish its authority, you question the integrity and the stability of this whole system. So I am saying even here in this country we have to be careful about things like that."

With acknowledgements to Angela Quintal, Boyd Webb and Cape Times.


*1

        Note :
"The president and I have decided"

Not :
        "On behalf of the president I advise that he has decided".


This is nevertheless a mere straw. The primary evidence is overwhelming, secret meetings, denials of secret meetings, encoded signals, encrypted faxes, bank recorded cashflows from Mauritius to recipient via Nkobi Finance and others.

Too late she cried.

Take the plea bargain, don't annoy the presidency be a model incarcerant and pray for a presidential pardon.

Check out Boesak.