SOUTH AFRICA: Jacob Zuma speaks to the media after delivered his first speech as new leader of South Africa's ruling African National Congress
Record ID:
455527
SOUTH AFRICA: Jacob Zuma speaks to the media after delivered his first speech as new leader of South Africa's ruling African National Congress
- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Jacob Zuma speaks to the media after delivered his first speech as new leader of South Africa's ruling African National Congress
- Date: 21st December 2007
- Summary: (W4) POLOKWANE; SOUTH AFRICA (DECEMBER, 2007) (REUTERS) MEDIA AND JOURNALIST ASKING A QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANC PRESIDENT, JACOB ZUMA, SAYING: "I don't agree that the strategy followed by us, has been useless and produced nothing, because nobody has produced anything, I believe if we had time, I could tell you what other things we had discussed with Zimbabweans which had been better than any shouting from any past of the world, so our quiet diplomacy, we are confident with it, and we are going to continue with it" MORE OF THE MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANC PRESIDENT, JACOB ZUMA, SAYING: "I think if there are allegations, I will answer that in court, but it was twisted, doctored and it became an allegation that Zuma wants his day in court, no i never, I was answering the question, that if at all you are investigating, this is what I know, even before democracy, even before the human rights were an important things in this country, investigations would be done, once they are done, you are taken to court, you were not expected to answer through the media, the charges that have not been put before you, so all I was saying if at all i have to answer allegations, that must happen in court, I am happy to clarify that" MORE OF THE MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANC TREASURER, MATTHEW PHOSA, SAYING: "If you say Mpshe (prosecutor Mokotedi Mpshe) has made that statement to Radio 702, he doesn't present his charge sheet to the radio stations and newspapers, he present it to the court of law, so there is no legal piece of summons, so why do you expect the President to react to a statement made somewhere, which has no legal effect in itself, well you are quite right to say if there is a charge sheet or a bridge, will cross it when we get there." MORE OF THE MEDIA WATCHING AND LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANC PRESIDENT, JACOB ZUMA, SAYING: "You can't then come in and say sorry, whatever you have been doing, put aside I an now here, I am Zuma this is my policy, impossible, you can't, the system cannot allow that, it just cannot, we are elected and deployed to implement ANC policy, not to originate our own policy, it doesn't happen that way." MEDIA
- Embargoed: 5th January 2008 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAA0W7HD984HK7JINIQ5EUPSVP0
- Story Text: Jacob Zuma spoke to the media on Thursday after delivered his first speech as new leader of South Africa's ruling African National Congress.
Jacob Zuma spoke to the media about corruption allegations after giving his first speech as ANC leader. Zuma defeated President Thabo Mbeki in an election for the party's top job on Tuesday at an ANC conference in the northern town of Polokwane. He is almost certain to become the country's next head of state when Mbeki has to step down in 2009.
South Africa's top prosecutor believes there is enough evidence to bring renewed graft charges against Jacob Zuma, a local radio station reported on Thursday.
Talk Radio 702 quoted prosecutor Mokotedi Mpshe as saying a decision was imminent on whether to take action against Zuma.
But Mpshe, acting director of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), only said on air: "The investigation is complete, all we are doing now is tying (up) the loose ends."
An NPA spokesman said he could not comment.
Zuma said he did not understand why the allegations were being raised in the media and not in a court.
"I think if there are allegations, I will answer that in court, but it was twisted, doctored and it became an allegation that Zuma wants his day in court, no I never, I was answering the question, that if at all you are investigating, this is what I know, even before democracy, even before the human rights were an important things in this country, investigations would be done, once they are done, you are taken to court, you were not expected to answer through the media, the charges that have not been put before you, so all I was saying if at all i have to answer allegations, that must happen in court, I am happy to clarify that," he said.
Zuma denies any wrongdoing. His supporters say he is the victim of a plot by Mbeki, who was humiliated in the ANC vote and now holds no office in the party. Critics accuse Mbeki of using state institutions to purge opponents.
Uncertainty over the charges is one of several issues causing concern among investors after Zuma's election.
Mbeki fired Zuma in 2005 after he was charged with bribery and fraud over a multi-million-dollar arms scandal. The case collapsed on a technicality.
Days before Zuma became ANC leader, an elite crime unit called the Scorpions filed papers in the Constitutional Court containing what they said was new evidence against him.
But Zuma's lawyer, Michael Hulley, told Reuters Mpshe had not notified him about possible legal action against the ANC leader.
In 2005, Zuma's former financial adviser Schabir Shaik was convicted of trying to solicit a 500,000 rand ($72,500) a year bribe for Zuma from a French arms company and jailed for 15 years.
ANC Treasurer Matthew Phosa said Zuma must be consider innocent until proven guilty.
"If you say Mpshe (prosecutor Mokotedi Mpshe) has made that statement to Radio 702, he doesn't present his charge sheet to the radio stations and newspapers, he present it to the court of law, so there is no legal piece of summons, so why do you expect the President to react to a statement made somewhere, which has no legal effect in itself, well you are quite right to say if there is a charge sheet or a bridge, will cross it when we get there," he said.
South African press reports say the ANC congress voted to disband the Scorpions although it is not clear if it has the power to do so.
ANC members, especially Zuma supporters, have accused the Scorpions of abusing their power to settle political scores.
Zuma also dealt with numerous other issues including South Africa's relations with Zimbabwe.
"I don't agree that the strategy followed by us, has been useless and produced nothing, because nobody has produced anything, I believe if we had time, I could tell you what other things we had discussed with Zimbabweans which had been better than any shouting from any past of the world, so our quiet diplomacy, we are confident with it, and we are going to continue with it," he said - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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