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15 Septembre 2017
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, September 15 (Infosplusgabon) – There is growing pressure on President Jacob Zuma to resign following an admission by his own legal team that the decision to drop 783 criminal charges against him was irrational.
Zuma’s lawyer Kemp J. Kemp on Thursday told the Supreme Court of Appeal that his client wanted the opportunity to make fresh representations before the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) decided whether to recharge him. The court has reserved judgement.
However, the official opposition Democratic Alliance on Friday warned that this is a further delaying tactic by Zuma’s team.
“We hope that the Court, as part of its judgement, will give some clarity on how the National Prosecuting Authority should deal with this revived prosecution. This is very significant, not only for the DA but much more significantly, for the people of South Africa and the principle of equality before the law. For far too long, the ANC political elite has been allowed to escape accountability simply because they are connected. This must not be allowed to stand. All citizens must face up to charges if they are brought against them, and the same must be true for Jacob Zuma,” said DA MP James Selfe.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions said the concessions by Zuma’s legal team pave the ground for the president to step down and focus on the impending charges against him.
Exactly 10 years ago, the NPA dropped 783 counts of corruption, fraud, racketeering and money laundering levelled against Zuma which paved the way for him to be appointed president. It argued that there was political meddling in the process, but the SCA has pointed out that this is irrelevant to the case Zuma faces.
FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/IOK/GABON 2017
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