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South Africa
Zuma's corruption case thrown out
Article published on the 2008-09-12 Latest update 2008-09-12 14:21 TU
Jacob Zuma entering the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Friday
The corruption case against ANC party leader Jacob Zuma was thrown out of court on Friday, as Judge Chris Nicholson of Pietermaritzburg court said the decision to prosecute was "invalid" and would be "set aside".
In the public gallery and outside the court thousands of Zuma supporters greeted the news with cheers.
Zuma, who is the leading candidate to become South Africa's president next year, faced 16 charges, which included money-laundering and racketeering. A major obstacle to that ambition has been removed.
Zuma supporters holding a night vigil ahead of his appearance in court on Friday
(Photo: Reuters)
The judge pointed out that his ruling was in no way related to the ANC chief's guilt or innocence, explaining that it was being thrown out on a point of procedure.
He explained that South Africa's Director of Public Prosecutions should have given Zuma an opportunity to make a representation before being charged.
Professor Pierre de Vos, a constitutional law expert at the University of Western Cape told RFI that Zuma was "not out of the woods yet because the judge made it clear that he is not making a ruling about whether Mr Zuma can be re-charged or whether the charges against Mr Zuma have any validity".
De Vos said that the decision would strengthen Zuma's hand politically "because the court has found that there has been some political interference in this matter in the way that he has always alleged so his position vis-à-vis the present president of the country is being strengthened".
