Former president Jacob Zuma’s tired old defence that the corruption prosecution against him is politically motivated is not changing — but the players are.
Corruption charges against Zuma were dropped in 2009 because it was thought there had been political interference in the 2007 decision to indict him.But in the Supreme Court of Appeal in 2017, Zuma’s legal team — the one he has now fired — conceded that the withdrawal of charges was irrational. So on March 16 he was again charged with corruption, fraud, racketeering and money laundering in relation to the multibillion-rand arms deal.
Now, more than a decade after he was first charged,Zuma is pushing the same old defence, only this time he seems to be pointing the finger at the leadership under President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Despite insisting that he wants his day in court, Zuma has lodged an application in the Pietermaritzburg High Court for a permanent stay of prosecution. Arguments will be heard on May 20.
In his affidavit, Zuma claims he is a “scapegoat” for those “who themselves seek to engage in sophisticated looting of the state resources while they lull society into believing that they act in its interests”.
This seems to be a jibe at Ramaphosa and those he has put in place to clean up the state, which was looted on Zuma’s watch.
Zuma’s favourite line when addressing his supporters outside the court is: “What have I done wrong?”
It’s a sentiment echoed in his refusal to testify before the state capture commission; he insists he has not been implicated in any wrongdoing.
Yet testimony over the past two months has indicated otherwise. As SA heads into a crucial election year, the behaviour of the ANC under Zuma has been thrown into the spotlight, particularly the party’s inaction in the face of the Guptas’ undue influence.
This has not stopped Zuma from campaigning for the ANC, albeit only in KwaZulu-Natal, where he still enjoys support.
Given that the government’s term officially ends on May 6, and elections can be held any time from May 7, the question arises as to whether Zuma’s legal wrangles will affect the ANC during the election period.
The answer, quite simply, is no. By the time Zuma appears in court again, it is possible that the elections will be done.
That said, the ANC is aiming to stay above the 50% mark in the polls. So having Zuma convince those in his home province to support the party can only help.
But once the elections are over, that’s it for Zuma; he holds no political sway in the ANC at national level.
If his application for a permanent stay of prosecution succeeds, he will get to go home and live out his days. If not, the corruption case will go ahead and he will have his day in court.
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