Prosecutors respond to Zuma case

JOHANNESBURG – South African prosecutors were due to respond formally yesterday to former Deputy President Jacob Zuma’s request that his politically sensitive corruption case be dropped.

The state, which has charged Zuma with graft in connection with an arms deal, will file an affidavit in Pietermaritzburg, where the trial is scheduled to resume on Sept. 5, National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Makhosini Nkosi said.Nkosi said the NPA would only disclose details of its affidavit after it had been filed.The case was postponed last month after prosecutors said they needed more time to prepare.Zuma’s lawyers fired back by asking a judge to issue a permanent stay of the charges or strike them off the roll.One of South Africa’s most popular leaders, Zuma, 64, was sacked by President Thabo Mbeki last year after he was accused of having a corrupt relationship with former aide Schabir Shaik and of accepting a bribe from French arms firm Thint.Zuma, whose hopes of succeeding Mbeki in 2009 hinge on the outcome and speed of the trial, denies the charges.The appeal, originally scheduled to be heard this month, has been postponed until late September, which could further delay Zuma’s trial as Shaik’s hearing will touch on many of the same matters expected to be introduced in the Zuma case.Nampa-Reuters5, National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Makhosini Nkosi said.Nkosi said the NPA would only disclose details of its affidavit after it had been filed.The case was postponed last month after prosecutors said they needed more time to prepare.Zuma’s lawyers fired back by asking a judge to issue a permanent stay of the charges or strike them off the roll.One of South Africa’s most popular leaders, Zuma, 64, was sacked by President Thabo Mbeki last year after he was accused of having a corrupt relationship with former aide Schabir Shaik and of accepting a bribe from French arms firm Thint.Zuma, whose hopes of succeeding Mbeki in 2009 hinge on the outcome and speed of the trial, denies the charges.The appeal, originally scheduled to be heard this month, has been postponed until late September, which could further delay Zuma’s trial as Shaik’s hearing will touch on many of the same matters expected to be introduced in the Zuma case.Nampa-Reuters