South Africa

Zuma case adjourned

Article published on the 2008-08-05 Latest update 2008-08-05 14:49 TU

Zuma gives a thumbs-up to his supporters at Pietermaritzburg court
(Photo: Reuters)

Thousands of supporters of African National Congress (ANC) chief Jacob Zuma cheered as he left the Pietermaritzburg courthouse, after the judge had adjourned the corruption case against him. After two days of hearings in the South African town, Judge Chris Nicholson said he will rule on Zuma's challenge to the case on 12 September.

"There is talk in the media that I am delaying justice," Zuma told the crowd. "I have never delayed justice."

High-ranking members of South Africa's ruling party from all over the country joined the rank and file outside the courthouse. Zuma's supporters repeated their claim that he is a victim of a political conspiracy, headed by current President Thabo Mbeki whom Zuma is set to replace at the head of the country.

Zuma's lawyers argue that the authorities failed to follow constitutional rules when deciding to recharge him in a case that was rejected by a judge in 2006. They say that he should have been allowed to make counter-arguments before prosecutors decided to press charges.

Prosecutors dismiss the claims as "scurrilous and irrelevant".

"It is highly political, since Jacob Zuma is now President of the ANC will become President of South Africa," analyst Liesl Low told RFI. "He has said that if he is found guilty he will step down."

Zuma faces more than a dozen charges, ranging from money-laundering to racketeering.

The main charge alleges that he took bribes for protecting French arms company Thint, a subsidiary of Thales, in an investigation into a weapons deal.