In terms of the South African Constitution, everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection — and this includes Jacob Zuma. So how fair is a stay of prosecution or withdrawal of graft charges against him, based on the claim of a lack of funding, even though the former president receives a salary of almost R3m? This is the same man who for the past decade has been using taxpayers’ money to fight corruption charges, and comes at a time when, according to Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, the country is estimated to have lost R100bn through state capture. Zuma is set to make his second appearance in the High Court in Durban on Friday, where he is facing one charge of racketeering‚ two of corruption‚ one of money laundering and 12 charges of fraud. Two weeks ago, he pleaded poverty, saying he did not have the "means to engage with the court processes" regarding his prosecution. His lawyers then wrote to the National Prosecuting Authority requesting a sta...
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