Presidency ‘disappointed’ but not surprised over Zuma’s spy tapes ruling

President Jacob Zuma’s office says it has noted the judgment by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA), and that while “disappointing”, the Presidency said it was “much anticipated”.

This after SCA Justice Eric Leach on Friday upheld a high court ruling to reinstate the hundreds of corruption, money laundering, and fraud charges against Zuma related to the 1999 multibillion-rand arms deal scandal.

In a short statement on Friday, Presidency spokesperson Dr Bongani Ngqulunga said Zuma had a right to make representations to NPA head Advocate Shaun Abrahams.

“The effect of the decision is that the only legitimate decision made by the NPA is to prosecute President Zuma. Importantly, it means that the representations have not been considered and the expectation is that the NDPP will now consider these representations under the correct prescripts of the law and make a legitimate decision relating thereto,” Ngqulunga said.

“Any person has the right to make such representations and an expectation that a legitimate decision will be made.

“These representations will be amplified in light of developments in the ensuing period. Not least of all are the recent revelations around the integrity of the audit report which underpins the prosecution,” Ngqulunga added.

Justice Leach, who only took eight minutes to hand down his ruling, said the manner in which the case was conducted on behalf of the NPA was inexcusable.

Zuma and the NPA asked for leave to appeal a judgment of the Gauteng North High Court last year, which ruled in favour of the DA, setting aside the 2009 decision by the NPA’s former director of public prosecution Mokotedi Mpshe to discontinue the corruption case against Zuma, on the basis of irrationality.

Justice Leach also ruled that the NPA and Zuma must pay costs of DA counsel.

– Additional reporting African News Agency

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