SOUTH AFRICA: ANC leader Jacob Zuma calls for fair legal hearing as he seeks to overturn corruption allegations

Record ID: 454922

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: ANC leader Jacob Zuma calls for fair legal hearing as he seeks to overturn corruption allegations
  • Date: 5th August 2008
  • Summary: PIETERMARITZBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (AUGUST 04, 2008) (REUTERS) ANC PRESIDENT, JACOB ZUMA SUPPORTERS AND MEDIA WAITING ANC PRESIDENT, JACOB ZUMA ARRIVING TO ADDRESS THE PEOPLE ZUMA SUPPORTERS LISTENING ANC PRESIDENT, JACOB ZUMA TALKING TO ANC OFFICIALS ZUMA SUPPORTERS ON TOP OF TREES POLICE WATCHING
  • Embargoed: 20th August 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Legal System,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA963FGCGD9UO776JGRQNEKOYGC
  • Story Text: ANC leader Zuma calls for respect from the judiciary as he seeks to overturn allegations of corruption which could hinder his bid for the presidency.
    Jacob Zuma, leader of South Africa's ruling ANC, appeared in court on Monday (Auguast 4) to push for the dismissal of a corruption case that could stop him becoming president of the country next year.
    The case is the biggest obstacle to the African National Congress leader succeeding President Thabo Mbeki. Zuma denies the charges of corruption, fraud, money-laundering and racketeering but says he will step down if convicted.
    A long trial might mean Zuma's case overlaps with general elections in 2009, which he would be almost certain to win, increasing political instability in Africa's biggest economy. Zuma's strong union links are a concern for some investors who see Mbeki's policies as more pro-business, but they are also worried about continuing uncertainty.
    More than 1,000 of his supporters demonstrated outside the high court in Pietermaritzburg, singing, chanting and waving placards to denounce charges they say are politically motivated and to try to stop Zuma from being put on trial later in the year.
    And later in the day Zuma addressed a supporters' rally, telling the crowd:
    "I am one of those people who was prepared to die for the liberation of this country, for justice in this country, for the judiciary of this country, which I so much respect, and I hope those in the judiciary will also respect it. If they want us to respect it, they must also respect it."
    Zuma's lawyer, Kemp J. Kemp, argued in court that authorities had not followed constitutional procedures in the case.
    The ANC leader is accused of taking 783 bribes totalling 4.07 million rand (286,460 pounds) over a 10-year period. Most of the payments were connected to his former financial advisor Schabir Shaik -- serving a 15 year prison sentence for corruption.
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