If media statements from political parties and editorial comments reacting to the NPA’s decision to withdraw charges against JZ are anything to go by, South Africa is in trouble. Almost all parties and editorials alike agree that dropping charges against Zuma is “unjust” and is a product of pressure from the ANC. It is interesting how “justice” and “equality” have been reduced to meaningless words in our country, particularly in relation to Zuma. These attempts are meant to weaken, not strengthen our justice system.
Who can stand up and authenticate the information on Zuma’s case in the face of such conspiracies? Who can attest in a court of law that the information the NPA has on Zuma was not meddled with? Who can confidently say important parts of this information were not cooked so as to bolster an otherwise weak case? If the NPA won’t be able to say this in court, why should it even bother prosecuting Zuma?
Journalists, politicians, judges, lawyers, all of whom have benefited from the patronage networks of Thabo Mbeki’s regime and those that did not benefit and still see no signs of benefiting under a Zuma administration, will do all in their capacity to paint a picture of a South Africa on the verge of collapse simply because of Zuma’s non-prosecution. These same people were absent and quiet when the NPA granted a plea bargain to Mark Thatcher who was accused of plotting a war. These same people kept quiet when the NPA gave plea bargains to criminals so as to open the way to prosecute McBride.
It is interesting that the self-acclaimed defenders of justice will threaten the entire country simply because they want the arrest of a man who is accused of having received kickbacks from secondary contracts in the arms deal. What about those who are believed to have benefited from primary contracts and apparently raked millions? Is it because they are not presidential candidates of the ANC? Is this about justice or is it simply about Zuma — president of the ANC.
Cope must save itself the embarrassment and keep quiet. They go on about the need to charge Zuma and to investigate wrongdoers. Cope is not serious about this. Of course, no clever organization would allow itself to ignore this matter, Cope is no exception. It was clever enough not to appear as disagreeing with the process, so they decided to put it in their press statement that all those found to have conspired against Zuma must be investigated. If Cope is serious about its statements, let it be bold enough to open cases like the ID has done. Press statements do not investigate anything, they are statements, nothing more, nothing less.
Only heartless and valueless individuals such as the leadership of the DA would refuse to step back and feel empathy for this old man who has had an entire institution such as the NPA manipulated simply to stop him from contesting Mbeki in what was supposed to be a democratic affair in Polokwane. Probably the DA is just campaigning for elections and does not really care about justice or equality. Oh please! The DA and its lap dogs must leave us alone with their half-baked justice!
Media institutions have a nerve, particularly the Sunday Times and City Press that made it their business to prosecute Zuma. Ever since Zuma began making claims of a political conspiracy he has been cartooned and caricatured with the intention of persuading newspaper readers not to take him seriously when he made these claims.
Did the media ever acknowledge that it was wrong for not lending an ear to this man’s claims. They continued profiling anonymous sources whose information was proven on many occasions to be false? Instead of doing the honourable thing and accepting wrong judgement on its part, the media act as though nothing happened and attempt to find fault in others. It does not take a rocket scientist to notice that something was seriously off-beam with the NPA’s treatment of JZ.
Media institutions constantly allege that Zuma’s credibility took a serious blow as a result of the investigation against him. Zuma’s win at Polokwane and the rallies the ANC has held thus far prove that it is actually the media that has taken a huge credibility knock in the eyes of ordinary South Africans. They have ignored negative media reports about Zuma and continued supporting him regardless of the negative coverage he receives. Newspaper editors should take it as a serious sign of lack of support if South Africans ignored repeated calls by the media to shirk Zuma and the ANC for as long as eight years.
Actually most of us buy some newspapers simply because we do not have a choice, if we do not buy them, we will not know the lies they feed South Africans masked by anonymous sources and informers. Of course there are some newspapers who despite their prejudices have attempted to report fairly and at times honestly but they are simply a drop in the ocean.
We have been treated with derision for far too long. We can only take it this much. Of course, we will not act violently to show our anger. We will deliver our anger to the polls when we prove to the DA and its lap dogs that we will vote for the ANC despite the unfavourable media coverage we have received thus far!
Of course this is not to suggest that I have changed my views on what should be done about the arms deal. Let me repeat myself once more. If this arms deal is not re-opened for fresh investigation, South Africa will never have peace of mind. Those that have been arrested and found guilty on the arms deal I believe are nothing but a footnote in an entire book of looting and heartless accumulation. Looting cannot be blamed on the ANC. It is a fault of the current economic system, which encourages personal enrichment rather than societal economic survival. Liberation movements will always breed economic opportunists so long as the state offers economic opportunities.
Why, yes. In a nutshell, there is an enormous amount of evidence, derived from unchallengeable sources, that Mr. Zuma received millions of rands from people who had no reason to give him that money except as bribes, that those people benefited from Mr. Zuma’s actions after the money was paid, and that Mr. Zuma did not pay tax on the money paid over.
There is no evidence that there was any conspiracy against Zuma. The much-touted tapes prove nothing except that people in government were discussing Zuma’s charging. One might argue that he should have been charged earlier or later. However, it is obvious that there is overwhelming evidence that Zuma is a criminal.
Unless he appears in court, he cannot deny the evidence, and nor can you. But on the other hand, if he never appears in court, and if he is a criminal, then he can never be punished for his crimes.
Unless I am much mistaken, this is actually what you are saying; that a possible criminal should never face punishment. Fair enough, but then be more honest; come out openly in support of crime, instead of falsely pretending that you care tuppence about corruption in government.
I think that you have the bar for your leaders a touch toooo low.
Anyone who does not pay his taxes properly (under any economic system) should not be able to hold public office. Period. Forget the rest of the shenanigans.
Now tell us why Jacob (he did not pay taxes for 10 years) should hold public office and before you do, if you are saying that he did not know better then ask yourself why you support a stupid leader in that case.
I don’t believe Jacob is stupid. So why support a man that manipulates the system as well as Thabo did. Why not find a leader who has integrity and honesty or are you saying there are no such leaders in the ANC.
Surely the ANC could have elected a better leader?
I will continue to vote for the IFP.
It would be easier to take this sort of thing more seriously if you had rather explained to us how a discussion about the timing of an announcement correlates to a massive conspiracy.
It’s also lovely to hear your ANC-related friends breaking their legs in the race to be first to persecute every single NPA-related person (apart from Mpshe The Spineless) on the basis of a few selected quotes from an illegally-procured wiretap that no-one has heard in full and has never been heard in a court of law.
What happened to the idea of innocent until proven guilty? Why all the cowardice and hypocrisy?
Also, as Zuma himself has claimed that others involved in the arms deal got bigger kickbacks than him, prosecuting Zuma would be a great way for those other, bigger fish to be caught as well.
If you really want to see a perfect example of politics interfering with justice, look no further than Monday’s decision to drop Zuma’s prosecution on the flimsiest of pretexts.
well said, mfo ka ndamase…
as i’ve said earlier, justice in south africa is not about innocence but it’s more about being finding someone guilty.
the same clamouring defenders of ‘so called’ democracy, who’re now talking about courts are the same mimmics who never respected the court’s decision which acquitted zuma, and claimed that there was a conspiracy. again it is gonna be the same, if the judgement doesnt go their way, they will accuse it of ‘towing the anc line’…
it’s just pathetic.
I agree that Zuma is clearly the fall guy for a much bigger fish in the whole arms deal saga. I agree with you that the investigation must be re-opened and all those involved must be held to account. But what are the chances of this? Travelgate has been brushed under the carpet with ministers who have been found guilty of fraud still holding their positions with no real action taken against them. What do you think will happen with arms deal? And even though Zuma is a ‘victim’ of meddeling, does that mean he is innocent of wrong doing? If not, then surely he should also have his chance in court?
Yes we will, watch closely as we rid ourselves of this thuggery, just as we rid ourselves of the NP thugs. Come the 22 nd of April all criminals will know that there is no place to hide and that they will stand accountable. Did you really think that your parties subversion of the law to suit it’s rich members would be popular with honest hard working citizens?
You don’t let the little fish (Zuma) go because you have not caught the big fish yet.
Which is why we have plea bargains.
Zuma chose not to plea bargain, but to make representations.
His representations were a smokescreen of rubbish, and produced no EVIDENCE that he was innocent.
Zuma once said “I’ll take the entire leadership down with me if charged”.That says it all dude(Unless you prefer pictures drawn for you)The rest of the “kindergarten sophistry” you always resort to with the hope of recycling zuma is simply hilarious.Keep going mtaka’baba,you good for a laugh.
Ho Hum
Lazola
Yes yes Mr Zuma will be president. The ANC and SACP have staked their all on making this happen. It is a Phyrric victory. It is unlikely that Mr Zuma will do much to alter the economic trajectory of post apartheid SA (the rich getting richer). He says whatever the audience wants him to say. He has not been found guilty, but he has also not been found guilty. He will remain a divisive figure in SA. When Africa runs with it’s begging bowl to the west, it must not wonder why there is such afro-pessimism around
Don’t worry, Ndamase! The new government of ours will soon censor newspapers preventing them from “feeding lies” to the public. There will only be one “truth”, i.e,. whatever your party sanctions as truth. Such systems are called dictatorships, but let this not disturb you, only valueless and pathetic DA and COPE members can spread such irrationalities.
“If Cope is serious about its statements, let it be bold enough to open cases like the ID has done.
Only heartless and valueless individuals such as the leadership of the DA would refuse to step back and feel empathy for this old man”
Surely there’s some contradiction here!
ALL those implicated in the dodgy arms deal should be investigated & brought to book – what the South African citizens have been demanding for how long? And systematically blocked by….the ANC.
“Looting cannot be blamed on the ANC.” oh help!!
How does pursuing a legal prosecution of Zuma “threaten” a whole country? Where is the threat?
I think you have it wrong; most people that want Jacob Zuma to be tried, want other alleged criminals tried too. The only reason we make a bigger fuss about Jacob Zuma is because he is, by all accounts, the next president of South Africa and therefore, we feel we have every right to know whether or not we are getting a criminal to lead our country.
What MFB said.
Oh, and regarding the NPA plea bargains – how are these relevant? At least plea bargains result in the accused admitting guilt. Do we have any remorse from Zuma, even just an admission that he may have had an error of judgement in his relationship with Shabir – no, just ongoing lies and smokescreens. Even die-hard ANC supporters know he is guilty.
MFB, you could not have said it better. We, who are not aligned to either of the ANC, SACP, COSATU, see the Zuma spectacle from a sober angle. Why do some people refuse to see the overwhelming evidence of corruption against Zuma, as was suggested in the Schabir conviction. If Lazola Ndamase has some degree of respect for the justice system in this country, he should take note of Justice Squires judgement that if Shabir Shaik was guilty of corruption, there needed to be a corruptee and so much evidence points to Jacob Zuma. Oh, yes, Lazola, do read Andrew Feinstein’s book, “After the party” or would he be considered a counter-revolutionary, just because he speaks the TRUTH about ANC accomplices in the ARMS Deal?
If you can make 783 charges (source Daily Mail) of fraud, racketeering, tax evasion and corruption go away without making it to court, I agree with you 100%, the words ‘justice’ and ‘equality’ has no meaning in South Africa. A sad day indeed.
I agree with MFB.
Why has Zuma tried so strenuously to avoid the justice system ? If he is innocent, he has nothing to fear. If on the other hand he is not, then it would explain a lot, wouldn’t it ?
What you have yourself said Lazola, is that you will vote ANC no matter what. This is the SAME attitude that the Nationalists had for all those years – so you are no better than them.
You need to make up your mind: do you believe in justice or just in tribal ethics (my king is a big, strong man, I vote for him).
Lazola,
This is not about the fortunes of one man, it is about the demise of the justice system
.
As you point out, there has been ‘selective’ prosecution and possible meddling with evidence, and this is a big problem.
A judiciary which is not fully independent is weak ,i.e. it’s actions can be subject to political influence.
If this is not true, then it makes nonsense of the ‘political conspiracy’ as grounds for dropping charges, as this is both an admission and claim that the functioning of the judiciary has been subject to political interference.
For this reason, do not expect a satisfactory resolution of the arms deal.
Whether Jacob Zuma ever gets prosecuted or not is not that important.
What is important is that without an impartial, independent and competent judiciary, we have no democracy.
Democracy is not about a exercising a vote every five years, it is about equality before the law in the interim.
You see, Mr Ndamase, it is not about conspiracies, or the DA, or COPE, or who is knifing who, or what side one is on.
It is about the end of the last pretence. It is about the very much belated discovery of a Late Pleistocene mindset.
Lazola… why not let a court of law decide if the evidence was fabricated or tainted? I know many are fans of zuma but we need to think of the long term implications of this decision. Does this decision prevent any future attempts to prosecute popular/powerful individuals? Are we really comfortable with a leadership that has so many unanswered questions?
I notice that hypocracy has been elevated to an art form.Some people imply that the tapes only talk about when to charge JZ.But there is more.They refer to a system where information is passed to outside parties(Ngcuka and the guy at beachfront)to be distributed to the media with the sole aim of trying JZ in a court of public opinion.The3 media should also take the blame here and accept that they were used in a political battle by Mbeki(Yes,I dare say his name).
By the way,it is true that the majority of us do not buy papers to be convinced but simply to see how far the media and opposition parties have jopined hands to destroy the ANC.The ANC forms part of our DNA.If we are not satisfied with JZ we will simply recall him(for evidence,ask Mbeki).We follow the movement,not individuals.Get that into your heads.
I notice with fascination that the opposition parties have abandoned their campaings and are now obssessed with JZ.Hypocritic,epecially when they were the ones accusing ANC members of being the same crime of obsession.
My ANC,
My Vision,
My Future.
I do concure with you that it seems that Justice is only done when the decision is agaist Zuma and under threat it is other way around which is I think is absurd and drab. I think this case has tainted lot of people`s minds that most of them think Zuma is guilty as charged and those people are the one who are believing whatever is in the papers
Some to argue that Zuma is a criminal I think is unethical and shows how we have been ignorant of facts in this case. And there is no way one can do to alter the minds of the individuals who feel Zuma is guilty as they have convinced themselves that so
Zuma appeared before judges before charges were dropped. He appeared before judge Msimang and Nicholson and won. Why all the fuss. It was clear from the beggining that a case was run through the media. Since when NPA head went on TV and tell the nation that he has an unwinnable case except on Zuma case. Zuma ‘s case was different from the beggining since he was charge on TV and investigated later. This looks like being accused of rape before you commit it.
@Siphiwo
For the record, no court decision in South Africa has ever acquitted Zuma. Zuma’s acquittal is all in your mind. That is what you would wish. What people are clamouring for is that Zuma stand trial. If he is acquitted by a competent court of law, I will celebrate that. Until then, to me and to many South Africans, Mr. Zuma will be a President of dubious character. I cannot be proud of that.
Lazola,
There seems to be a mass media hypnosis that seems to be trumpeting DA talking points. In this dellusional state, the constitutional order is subverted by opposition parties, journalists and analysts by “cloud cuckoo-land thinking”.
How many times have you had journalists, talkshow hosts talk about clouds hanging around Zuma. In other words, if I allege that Helen Zille is having and affair with Eugene Terreblanche, the onus is on Zille to prove herself innocent, else there would be a cloud hanging around Zille and justice won’t be served.
Luckiliy our criminal justice system is adversorial and the onus is on the prosecutors to prove beyond reasonable doubt that an accused is guilty. In other words it is the guilt that is proven and not innocence. To require people to prove their innocence based on allegations is a subversion of justice. This “cloud principle” is utter hogwash not founded by any scientific and meteorological facts. It can only be a result of mass hypnosis and hatred of the individual Zuma that can allow so many learned people to believe in such hogwash.
I donot expect media houses to treat JZ in a fair manner as it has been shown that they were complicit in the whole conspiracy under the guise of investigative journalism.From the information now available, it is clear that some of the conspirators even determined when some of the information could be published ,all with the aim of insulting JZ. The media institution in Country is badly tarnished.
‘Did the media ever acknowledge that it was wrong for not lending an ear to this man’s claims.Did the media ever acknowledge that it was wrong for not lending an ear to this man’s claims.’ Oh please! Why should they? ‘This man’ started off demanding his day in court and then spent 8 years wriggling like a worm on a hook to ensure that he could avoid it. If there was any truth to his claims he should still be demanding the opportunity to clear himself. The reason he is so desperate not to be given that opportunity is that he knows that the case against him is too strong.
This decision not to prosecute is not an acquittal. The case is still as strong as it ever was – he’s just in the happy position of not having to account for his crimes.
Your argument and reasoning is poor, son because
1.You admit that Mr. Zuma has been accused of receiving kickbacks from the arms deal.
2.You mention that you would like to see the investigation into the matter reopened and by that admitting that there was corruption in the arms deal.
3.You also mention that there is a belief somewhere that other people benefited from the arms deal. You use the write word ‘believed’ and there has been no legal accusations. You fail to acknowledge that Mr. Shaik was sentenced for fraud to which Mr. Zuma was the recipient of the money. You also fail to mention that the arms deal has been investigated by all the investigation institutions in RSA, including the investigation that has been done by the European agencies. Also the former president of RSA has called on anyone with evidence of other people including him being involved in corruption to bring such matter to our law agencies.
4.What has happened, up to now? No evidence has been brought, supporting the beliefs that there are other people involved corruption in the arms deal.
Let’s talk facts here; the people who support Mr. Zuma do so NOT because they think he is innocent, but because they think that he is being singled out for political reason. Incidentally that implies that as South Africans we cannot find a leader with integrity or else we are saying that integrity of our leadership is not important to us. Zimbabwe
In the eyes of the black majority the media got no credibility! They want to change the political discourse from a minority and racist viewpoint! The M&G, the bastion of liberal journalism sells a mere 50 000 newspapers per week but claimed themselves as a voice in the forefront against the ANC!
I will state unequivocally that the NPA had in any case a weak case against Zuma, regardless of their boasting of a strong case! What prosecutor in his right mind is going to tell the world he/she got a weak case? I find it astonishing that the Zuma bashers don’t ask why judge Msimang threw the NPA’s case out in 2005? The judge threw the case out as our heroic prosecutors were not ready to proceed despite the fact that they investigating Zuma for years already! Zuma was a victim of NPA manipulation and cruel justice because how can you first charge somebody and then look for evidence afterwards?
The first order of a Zuma Presidency should be to investigate the NPA and other justice sectors!
Zimbabwe indeed.
Total shambles.
To all
Those who would want these issues to be resolved by a court of law. So be it. However, why is the Media not doing the same to Ngcuka as it did to Zuma.
For me, everything must be done within the bounds of the law. However, the law must not only be applied to Zuma and forgotten when it comes to other people.
Everybody else except the ANC seems to have a license to criticise Judicial processes. Everybody has been ranting about what the NPA should have done and should not have done. If it was the ANC doing this, hypocrites would be arguing that it is putting pressure on the NPA.
George Makola stop lying, where did Zuma make the statement to bring down the entire ANC leadership with him.This often repeated statement cannot be found anywhere except in the media, for obvious reasons. Mr Makola you don’t have to lie to express your hatred.Just hate the man without concocting reasons to do so. Simple.
I’m sorry, but Zuma is a proven liar, a cheat, a spendthrift, a satyr, and a populist who says whatever his audience wants to hear. Do people really think he and the Gucci socialists that follow him, are going to deliver jobs, houses and utilities? Are we really still that gullible, “following the movement”?
Have we so quickly forgotten Shaik’s trial? Did those who speak passionately for Zuma read that thorough judgement for themselves? Schabir Shaik was a very bad man and a nasty personality – greedy, vain, abusive and corrupt. And he had Zuma twisted around his oily fingers, apparently still has. You can know a man by the friends he keeps (and the way he treats women).
The thought of Zuma standing next to world leaders as one of them is painful; and he’s going to be divisive as no SA leader has been since apartheid days.
One good thing: the “court of public opinion” convenes on April 22. So, no more “sub judice” evasion; and Zuma’s apparently lying already (says he used his MK pension to repay Shaik). Odd this pension wasn’t mentioned at Shaik’s trial – it might have saved a lot of trouble!
So go for it journalists. Check out every last thing he says and keep pushing. Jessie Duarte can flap around all she likes but its still a free country and Zuma owes this country some answers; ALL of us, not just the ANC.
What is wrong with giving Zuma a chance to defend himself in court. If he is innocent he will be found to be innocent. Dropping charges amounted to allowing him not to appear in court. With these accusations hanging over him many South Africans are unsure whether he will be a trustworthy president. Surely this can be allowed to be settled by a court of law. Why would you defend a process that prevents that?
Mokgadi
Zuma did not “win” before either Msimang or Nicholson. Msimang struck the case off the roll -SO IT COULD BE ENROLLED AGAIN when the NPA was ready ( and to get himself off the hook ).
Judge Nicholson made a basic error in law, which I think was so basic that he made it on purpose ( to stop the intimidation of the judges ).
Madoda
Dont talk rubbish. There are not 780 charges substantiated by the top investigators of Africa that Helen Zille had an affair.
And the media might affect public opinion, but not the opinion of judges. Even Mpshe himself spelled that out – that there would be no problem with a “fair trial”.
You guys are stupid. You ca not use the law to persecute an individual. There is no evidence of any wrong doing against JZ. If there was the NPA would have prsented it in court. Why has it taken 9 years to prosecute. Why were the details leaked in the press? For all of you who proclaim democracy, would you like the state to treat you the way JZ has been treated? Would you like allegations against published in the Sunday Times before you are charged? Would you like to be tried in abstentia? Would you like investigators & prosecutors to conspire against you? How do you justify this? Are people so desperate to protect their ill gotten gains that they would resort to thugery to get rid of politicians who are a threat?
Sipho,was it necessary to display your ignorance so openly?Zuma was asked on Metro Fm to confirm that statement attributed to him which he allegely uttered in one of the NEC meetings,if you want to know what his answer was,get a copy of Sunday World(29/03/09)and check out his interesting answer in the “10 questions interview” where he was asked the same question as well.Lastly,please make reading a habit,then you’ll know what you talking about.
Truth
You have absolutely, completely and totally missed the whole point.
Yes, actually justice does mean prosecuting Zuma, because everyone should be equal before the law.
The reasons why are so obvious they should not need explaining.