Publication: Business Day Issued: Date: 2009-01-29 Reporter: Semang Nkadimeng

Zuma Questions

 

Publication 

Business Day
Date 2009-01-29
Reporter Semang Nkadimeng

Web Link

www.businessday.co.za


Letters

In the article, Zuma keeping all his legal options open (January 28), it is said: “(National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Tlali) Tlali said that (Jacob) Zuma had indicated on Monday that he was not in a position to make representations, and that he ‘did not commit to any further specific date’.”

This calls into question whether the application before Judge Nicholson was just a delaying tactic *2, since the main reason for it was an invitation *2 ­ or lack thereof ­ to make representations.

I think it is not unreasonable to expect that they have, or should have, always been ready to make representations *3 as they were just waiting for the invitation.

Without jumping the gun, I think a reasonable man or woman should note that something just doesn’t add up. This is hardly conduct one would expect from a presidential candidate in a civilized society.

Semang Nkadimeng
Tshwane

With acknowledgements to Semang Nkadimeng and Business Day.


*1      Of course it was just a delaying tactic.


*2      The Accused did not only want an invitation to make representations, he demand a right to do so.

The NPA always made it clear that an Accused (or any other involved party for that matter) may always submit representations and that these would receive whatever consideration that was due.

But the Accused has no right to demand them.

But in this case the NPA and the Accused came to a formal arrangement that it would take representations and that this would be on a certain date or by a certain date.

And this opportunistic criminal then defaults on the agreement.

He is just playing for time until a new NDPP can be appointed or some other such mechanism.


*3      Now it is clear that this Accused not only demands the right to make representations, but that this should be on his terms.

It is astounding.

What's more, both the NPA and the Accused are financing this pantomime with our taxes *4.

The honest people in the NPA should give him the shortest shrift in the history of South African jurisprudence.


*4      I don't know about others, but my taxes are very precious to me, every last cent of them.