NEWS ANALYSIS: Jacob Zuma’s defence — old story, new characters
The former president has perfected the art of playing victim but he should have his day in court
Former president Jacob Zuma’s tired old defence that the corruption prosecution against him is politically motivated is not changing — but the players are. Corruption charges against Zuma were dropped in 2009 because it was thought there had been political interference in the 2007 decision to indict him.But in the Supreme Court of Appeal in 2017, Zuma’s legal team — the one he has now fired — conceded that the withdrawal of charges was irrational. So on March 16 he was again charged with corruption, fraud, racketeering and money laundering in relation to the multibillion-rand arms deal. Now, more than a decade after he was first charged,Zuma is pushing the same old defence, only this time he seems to be pointing the finger at the leadership under President Cyril Ramaphosa. Despite insisting that he wants his day in court, Zuma has lodged an application in the Pietermaritzburg High Court for a permanent stay of prosecution. Arguments will be heard on May 20. In his affidavit, Zuma cl...
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