Mr Duck and Dive in fine form

But the news lover’s bread and butter for the week has to be President Jacob Zuma, or the biggest ducker and diver.

The North Gauteng High Court instructed the National Prosecution Authority to hand over the controversial spy tapes and all related memoranda to the DA lawyers within five days.

Instead of the tapes, the DA received notification from the lawyers acting for “Duck and Dive” Zuma that they intend to apply for leave to appeal the decision.

In April 2009, the then acting National Prosecuting Authority head Mokotedi Mpshe used the tapes to withdraw fraud and corruption charges against Zuma. The charges relate to the arms deal.

The decision paved the way to the presidency for Zuma who had spent the previous two years finding all sorts of reasons as to why he shouldn’t stand trial for these charges.

His decision to appeal raises the curiosity: what exactly is on those tapes that the President doesn’t want the world to know?

There are massive implications should a review find that there was no basis to drop the charges against Zuma: the President may be charged and forced to vacate his position.

The commission probing the arms deal is underway, but you’ve got to wonder whether the President will actually make an appearance, or will challenge the findings in court should his name come up.

Also this week, R55-million worth Agang SA leader Dr Mamphele Ramphele challenged Zuma to disclose his wealth in public. In response, Zuma dived as usual, referring to some law that required him to declare his finances to the Secretary of Cabinet.

Zuma is also the leader of a political party that has yet to recall sacked communications minister, the naughty, Dina Pule despite her being found guilty of awarding a multi-million rand tender to a company owned by her boyfriend and travelling with him at the taxpayers’ expense.

His government also refused to fund lawyers for the victims of Marikana massacre, when common sense dictates otherwise.

The ANN7 news channel, controlled by the Gupta family went live on Wednesday, and it’s best described as comedy rather than a serious news channel. It joins eNews Channel Africa and SABC News on the hotly contested market.

With due respect to the other two channels, there’s something about eNews Channel Africa that they don’t offer. So the Hyde Park-based channel tops the list for now.

Also this week, Cosatu continued to be in the news with the internal split sparked by the Zwelinzima Vavi sex scandal.

On the sporting front, all roads lead to FNB Stadium on Saturday for the MTN8 semi-final first-leg clash between arch rivals Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. Kick off of one of the biggest and most watched football matches in the world is 3pm.

At 5pm, MTN Golden Lions invade Pretoria to take on Vodacom Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup needing nothing but victory after stuttering in the first two games of the competition.
Later at 9.10pm, the Springboks are away to Argentina in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.

Happy weekend Joburg.