SOUTH AFRICA / FILE: South Africa's Jacob Zuma speaks out about corruption allegations and political future

Record ID: 453909

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA / FILE: South Africa's Jacob Zuma speaks out about corruption allegations and political future
  • Date: 19th June 2007
  • Summary: (AD1) SOWETO, SOUTH AFRICA (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ZUMA SINGING AND DANCING DURING A RALLY
  • Embargoed: 4th July 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA24162SWXNMFT1LLQ4FG7HXGUG
  • Story Text: Former South Africa vice-president Jacob Zuma announced on Thursday (June 14) that he will accept nomination for the presidency of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) if one is made.
    Given the ANC's political dominance, its leader is all but guaranteed to become South Africa's president in 2009. Zuma currently has the backing from the party's youth league, the South African Communist Party and some labour union leaders.
    Once seen as the front-runner to succeed President Thabo Mbeki, Zuma was fired as Mbeki's deputy after he was implicated in the corruption trial of his former financial aide, Schabir Shaik involving an 1999 arms procurement scandal. .
    "The fact of the matter is that, there is a problem with the arms deal in my view, and is an issue I don't want to make a lot of comments about, because that's an issue which is being investigated around me, but there is a problem. There is an allegation that there was an attempted bribe with Zuma involved of about five hundred thousand rands, and there is no evidence for it. All three people who had a meeting know nothing about it, but the investigation goes on for more than six years. And then we've got allegations where people say millions were given to specific individuals are mentioned and organs they say there's nothing wrong, some are admitting nothing wrong. It leaves a lot to be desired, I think it leaves a lot of questions, but I don't think, given the fact that it is me who is being investigated I need to comment a lot about that, but it does worry, it does suggest many things and I'm sure if the case come, those matters will certainly be dealt with, so I wouldn't want to get into those issues now," Zuma said.
    A South African court on Tuesday (June 12) granted the state permission to obtain documents from Mauritius which could implicate Zuma in a new corruption case after the previous one collapsed in September. The court's decision could be a blow to the resilient and controversial politician, who is expected to be a strong candidate in the race to lead the ANC.
    "Whether there is a case, or no case...I have answered this question before with other people, because if people say we want to charge you, or we are charging you or I'm charged, if the ANC says we want to give you this task, and I say because I'm charged I don't want to take this task, you know that I'm actually pleading guilty, because it means I know that I'm guilty," he added
    Zuma, a charismatic hero of South Africa's anti-apartheid struggle, also has remained popular mostly among the ANC's rank and file and powerful trade unions after surviving several corruption allegations and an acquittal in a rape case.
    "I think torture of people, it cannot be accepted in democracy. I say this being one of those who came from a South Africa that was very fond of torturing and killing people. It cannot be accepted, and I think it should be put as such. Whether it is of the citizens, or opposition, or journalists, it can't be right, it is not an ingredient of any democracy so it can't be right, and I think it needs to be condemned," Zuma replied when asked about human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.
    But analysts say allegations against Zuma has tainted the ANC, which lead the long battle against apartheid. The party, which is already deeply divided on the issue, is due to meet in December for its five-yearly national conference that will choose its next leader.
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