South African state lawyers launched an appeal against the dismissal of corruption charges against controversial ANC leader Jacob Zuma on Friday. South Africa’s national prosecuting authority, the NPA, is seeking to have a High Court ruling from September 12 overturned on appeal. The judge accused former South African President Thabo Mbeki’s government of interfering in the case for political reasons. Mbeki denies the charge.
Zuma was facing a charge of racketeering, four charges of corruption, a charge of money laundering and 12 charges of fraud, stemming from a controversial 5 billion dollar 1999 arms deal.
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Appeal court to rule on Zuma in 2009
Producer: Zaa Nkweta
ZAA NKWETA, TRNN: South African state lawyers launched an appeal against the dismissal of corruption charges against controversial ANC leader Jacob Zuma on Friday. Zuma was facing a charge of racketeering, four charges of corruption, a charge of money laundering, and 12 charges of fraud stemming from a controversial $5 billion 1999 arms deal. South Africa’s national prosecuting authority, the NPA, is seeking to have a High Court ruling from September 12 overturned on appeal. In that ruling, the judge ruled that the NPA’s decision to charge Zuma was unlawful, ’cause he had not been allowed to make representations to the national director of public prosecutions before he was charged. The judge accused former South African President Thabo Mbeki’s government of interfering in the case for political reasons. Mbeki denied any political interference, but lost an appeal against that part of the judgment earlier this month. The appeal once again brings into focus the schism that still exists between ANC rivals Jacob Zuma and former South African President Thabo Mbeki. Mbeki’s expected to argue why he should be allowed to intervene in the battle between the NPA and Zuma or [inaudible] to the legal phrase “a friend of the court.” Ousted from the leadership of the ANC, Mbeki is expected to challenge the judge’s inferences of political meddling against him, which he claims led the ANC to recall him from his position as president of the country. Exiting the court on Friday, Zuma appeared before his supporters.
JACOB ZUMA, PRESIDENT, AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS: The bench said they will give the judgment of what transpired today January 12. On 12th January we’ll then hear what are the final results.
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