NPA says Zuma’s ConCourt bid will not affect trial

NPA spokesperson Tlali Tlali said the decision to prosecute Zuma had taken into account the outcome of the ANC president’s Constitutional Court bid against a Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruling in early November. ‘The NPA embarked on a process of consideration when it made its decision (to charge Zuma and Thint),’ said Tlali. Zuma and his attorney Michael Hulley claimed in papers filed with the Constitutional Court that the search and seizure raids by the Scorpions invaded their constitutional right to privacy and dignity. Hulley claimed that the raids were so controversial that although the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled in the state’s favour, the ‘judicial process’ was equally divided over the raids. ‘The outcome in the SCA has simply demonstrated that the issues are contentious and of principle. It is thus clear also that there are reasonable prospects of success on appeal.’ Zuma and Hulley’s case has not been placed on the roll of the Constitutional Court which resumes on 15 February. The court could still decide to hear the case or it could simply make an order based on the documentation before it. Full report on The Citizen site

There is no fear the ANC will try to block Zuma’s trial. So says leading human rights lawyer George Bizos, who along with former Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson recently felt compelled to issue a statement deploring public pronouncements questioning the integrity of the judiciary in the alleged Zuma corruption matter. The trial is set down for 14 August. In an interview in the So Many Questions feature in the Sunday Times, he warned, however, that statements that unjustifiably questioned the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary ‘are harmful. People start not having respect for judgments and rulings, and it’s the beginning of a process that can do tremendous damage to democracy’. Nevertheless, he does not believe those who attack the integrity of the judiciary should be charged with contempt except ‘in very rare circumstances’. He added: ‘I think the judiciary relies on the integrity of the media and well-informed people and commentators to defend (it).’ Full Sunday Times interview