PRESIDENCY
NATASHA MARRIAN: Zuma is on back foot in courts and party
As the noose tightens, expect more surprise concessions and last-minute deals on offer from Zuma
SA could soon have a criminal suspect as president. This follows Jacob Zuma’s astounding concession in the Supreme Court of Appeal on Thursday that the decision to drop the 783 charges of corruption, fraud and racketeering against him was, indeed, irrational. As Zuma’s second term draws to a close, there is push-back against him and his faction in the ANC — in the legal and political arenas. His response and that of the party could break both. On the legal front, Zuma will probably be on the receiving end of a scathing appeal court judgment in the wake of his concession — after eight-and-a-half years, seven courts and millions of taxpayer rand on legal fees. The president has clearly decided that if he must face charges, he would prefer sycophantic national prosecutions head Shaun Abrahams to deal with them, even if his chosen saviour has proved to be transparently captured given his conduct in the Pravin Gordhan matter. Zuma is also essentially Abrahams’s boss.Zuma also faces an im...
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