Statement Issued by SACP

Young Communist League of South Africa Press Statement

YCL Statement on the Decision of the Court of Appeal on the Shabir Shaik Trial

Attention : News Editors

For immediate release : 6 November 2006

The YCL notes the decision of the Court of Appeal to reject Shabir Shaik's right to appeal against his conviction by Judge Hillary Squires.

We note that this is not a judgment against Jacob Zuma. We still maintain that it was incorrect for Judge Squires to have found Cde Jacob Zuma guilty when he was not in court.

As the YCL we will be studying the merits and demerits of the judgment with the intention of making further comments. We further like to caution those who are calling for the ANC Deputy President to be charged by the NPA as a result the ruling against Shaik *1. If the Deputy President of the ANC is charged, the President of the country has to be charged as well *2 because his name keeps on being mentioned in the arms deal. We think he has a case to answer well. In his affidavit to the High Court of South Africa Natal Provincial Division corruption trial, the ANC Deputy President states that :

'Honourable President Mbeki was in his position as the then Deputy President and member of the Cabinet, very much involved in the Arms Deal process. He took an active interest and part in it. He engaged with several of the role-players and other interested parties. He has been scurrilously accused of being party to improprieties in this regard. I annex a recent report to this effect hereto, and mark it "J". 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 corruption in the award process. Once again, if he does so the prosecution must revisit and rethink the allegations that I was bribed to protect the French interests against exposure for corruption in the arms deal'.

We are still convinced that the Deputy President of the ANC is innocent and those who are calling for his head are mischievous and malicious.


Issued by the Young Communist League
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