NPA must immediately continue with charges against Jacob Zuma

29 April 2016

This morning the North Gauteng High Court set aside the decision by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to discontinue prosecuting President Jacob Zuma for the 783 charges of fraud, corruption and money-laundering just prior to being elected ANC president. 

This finding by the court is an overwhelming victory for the Rule of Law, and the NPA must now immediately continue with the 783 charges of corruption so that President Zuma can finally have his day in court. 

Since the DA first took this matter to court in 2009, we have maintained that the decision taken by the then acting National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Mokotedi Mpshe, to drop these charges was irrational, unreasonable and made with an ulterior political motive. Today’s finding by a full bench of the North Gauteng High Court substantiated our contention.

In the absence of any legitimate factual or legal reasons, the DA is led to believe that these charges were dropped for political purposes: a political solution needed to be found to drop charges against a person who was about to become President, and the Spy Tapes provided the convenient excuse.

Despite it being an absolute outrage that President Zuma has, for almost six years, used taxpayer’s money to bankroll his opposition to the release of the Spy Tapes, he will be held to account as the law and due process demand.

President Zuma must finally come to the realisation that he is not above the law. 

The NPA must, to regain respect of the people, act expeditiously and continue with the 783 charges of fraud, corruption and money-laundering against Jacob Zuma

Issued by Mabine Seabe, Spokesperson to the DA Leader, 29 April 2016