Zuma is not innocent - Helen Zille

SPEECH BY HELEN ZILLE, LEADER OF THE DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE, ALEX LAING HALL, KROONVALE, GRAAFF-REINET, APRIL 8 2009

Yesterday we watched Jacob Zuma smugly declare his innocence. The ANC is putting out the word on the street that Zuma has been vindicated. This is nonsense.

Zuma says that he has not been found guilty in a court of law. Well, he has not been found innocent either. His innocence has never been proved. Only a court of law can do that. If Zuma never has the opportunity to prove his innocence, a cloud of suspicion will forever remain above his head.

If Jacob Zuma was innocent, he would have been disappointed by the National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) decision to drop the charges. He would have wanted, after building his defence for eight years, to take his case to court and prove his innocence once and for all.

But Zuma has not done that. He has used every trick - including acquiring tapes from the National Intelligence Agency and blackmailing the NPA - to avoid his day in court. He wants to avoid his day in court because a cloud of suspicion is preferable to a jail sentence.

Zuma said yesterday that it is a time for healing and unity. What he doesn't understand is that the NPA's dropping the charges against him on spurious grounds has left a gaping wound in our constitutional democracy. This will only heal when we know - once and for all - whether Jacob Zuma is innocent or guilty.

The NPA's withdrawing of the charges against Zuma is not the end of the matter. The DA is going to fight this with everything we have. Our first step is to prove in court that the NPA's dropping of the charges was irrational and unlawful.

We believe that we can do this because there is no connection whatsoever between the prima facie case against Zuma and the alleged political conspiracy against him. We must remember that Schabir Shaik was found guilty of bribing Zuma in a court of law. Whether or not figures in the NPA conspired about the timing of the charge against Zuma is immaterial.

If you join the dots, it is clear that the real political conspiracy in this whole saga has been plotted by the Zuma camp. The Scorpions were disbanded to protect Zuma from further investigations, Vusi Pikoli was fired because he could not be relied upon to act as a Zuma stooge and Schabir Shaik was given medical parole because he threatened to take Zuma down with him unless strings were pulled to get him out of prison.

The root cause of this sorry mess has been the ANC's cadre deployment policy and the use of these cadres to serve their particular party faction and abuse the institutions of state. This is the root cause of the failed state syndrome, which ends up impoverishing the vast majority of citizens and enriching the select few.

Issued by the Democratic Alliance, April 8 2009

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Zuma We may not be heading the same way as Zimbabwe, but its not going to be far off. Zuma's polices will become clear in a year or so. I am still amazed by how many South Africans still have their heads in the sand about the fast approaching bleak future of . .more this country. Only ray of hope is that the ANC do not get the crucial two thirds majority at the upcoming election. Get out there and vote people it may be your last chance ! Otherwise get that passport out. . .less by Earthwalker on April 08 2009, 16:06 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

ELECTION GO HELEN GO, YOU ARE GREAT, SHOW THEM WHAT THE DA IS MADE OFF... VOTE DA, VOTE TO WIN, STEM EN WEN!!!!!!!!!!! by THE AFRICAN on April 08 2009, 17:48 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Clear and present danger The Constitution and due process are now in mortal danger. The judiciary cannot sit still and allow this to continue unchallenged. Mr Mpshe's actions were not only cowardly, but dangerous. He quoted selectively from material obtained from National . .more Intelligence, quite obviously to ensure that any conversations mentioning a certain person by name were suppressed. He then blatantly ignored a recent decision by the Supreme Court of Appeal, from which it is crystal clear even to a layman, that the reasons given by Mr Mpshe for halting the prosecution were not tenable in law. (see part 2 below). Helen Zille and the DA acted with commendable speed to bring this to the attention of the court. We can now only hope that the courts will realise that this is not a political matter, but that a body entrusted with the protection of our rights and interests as citizens, spat in the face of the Supreme Court of Appeal. (continued) . .less by Sam van den Berg on April 08 2009, 18:08 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Clear and present danger (continued) This is the Appeal Court judgment that Mr Mpshe simply ignored: [37] A prosecution is not wrongful merely because it is brought for an improper purpose It will only be wrongful if, in addition reasonable and probable grounds for prosecuting are . .more absent ... which in any event can only be determined once criminal proceedings have been concluded. The motive behind the prosecution are irrelevant ..." Mr Mpshe acted unlawfully and treated the Appeal Court with contempt. . .less by Sam van den Berg on April 08 2009, 18:39 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Once again Zille is right on target A man who has spent 100m of tax payers money to stop his case going to court can no longer be assumed "innocent until proved guilty". For myself and a large percentage of South Africans, Zuma is now "guilty until he can prove his innocence". The . .more shocked expressions at yesterday's press conference by the CNN journalist and the Economist journalist at the bizarre reasons the NPA concocted to get Zuma off the hook, said it all. Our future President is reducing SA to just another third world laughing stock. . .less by Sad days on April 08 2009, 18:55 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Sometimes outsiders see things more clearly This is what Peter Hitchens wrote in the UK's Daily Mail a week ago. "Speaking in English, the future President has all the charisma of an ashtray. The scripted slogans fall from his lips like blobs of cold porridge. He talks of the fight . .more against crime as if he were not himself overshadowed by criminal charges and the unabashed friend of convicted crooks." See more here - http://tinyurl.com/d7otky Read it and weep. Cry the beloved country all over again. . .less by Sad days on April 08 2009, 19:16 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Its called ... ... Job Protection. Mr Mpshe knows that the President appoints the post of the National Director of Prosecutions, and he's just assured himself of that job. Either that, or Mr Mpshe is grossly ignorant of his job description. by Saffer on April 08 2009, 19:33 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The courts must act now Mr Mpshe shows open contempt for the Supreme Court of Appeal -- who the h*ll does he think he is? Now I read that Jacob Zuma, a mere politician, and one with a pretty muddy reputation at that, dares to insult not only the judiciary, but the . .more Constitutional Court. A man who is held in contempt by a very large number of informed ciitizens, is already bragging about how he is going to change the Constitutional court. Who the h*ll does he think he is? Mpshe has treated the Supreme Court of Appeal with contempt, the sullied politician Zuma treats the Constitutional Court with contempt. I cannot comment on the Hlope hearings, but we all know what we have been hearing. We ordinary citizens now look to the courts to protect us from these thugs. If the courts refuse to hear the cry for help which is what the DA's application for review is, then we are lost. . .less by Sam van den Berg on April 08 2009, 20:25 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Zille Are you stupid. I have never seen anyone go to court to prove their "innocence" . You are presumed innocent. You are not presuned guilty. The state has failed to prove Zuma's guilt... so he is innocent. As for CNN & the economist, they are pesuing an . .more agenda. If the Zuma case had been in a US court, it would have been thrown out a long time ago. They do n't allow prosecutors to raid attorney's offices. As for Sad days, sad days indeed. We no longer live in an apartheid state where tainted evidence could be used against an accused by tainted prosecutors. . .less by jj on April 08 2009, 21:57 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

zuma is not innocent This process has been unfortunately predictable. The ANC has always felt that they are above the law. It is an utter disgrace and embrassing to all those South Africans with a brain. Please lets wake up and vote for a party with more integrity, we've . .more only got a few days in which to make up our minds to try and make a difference. . .less by suzie m on April 08 2009, 22:09 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The ANC will win, but we can limit the damage The ANC will win the election because of the slick way in which Zuma and Blade Nzimabde are conning the millions of poor people who were immiserated by the very same ANC/SACP, who filled key posts with incompetents and thieves, destroyed education, . .more destroyed health care and enriched themselves and their friends [including a certain Mr ***] with the corrupt arms deal -- squandering money on unnecessary weaponry that could have built TWO MILLION RDP HOUSES -- yes 2 000 000 hiouses! Voters should use their votes wisely by concentrating their votes in the most visible and effective opposition, the DA, driving the ANC out of at least one province, perhaps more, and getting ready to drive them out of every city in the country when the local elections come round. Members of the public can also help protect themselves by supporting every move by protect the judiciary, the constitution and the media -- our only protection against ochlocracy. Deny the ANC a 2/3 majority which will enable them to tamper with the constitution, and be wary of parties that may break their promnises and make a deal with the ANC. However long it takes, the ANC must be destroyed, just as the National Party was wiped off the face of the earth.. . .less by Pecksniff on April 08 2009, 23:29 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Sad days Right now, I'm feeling saddened by the apparent truth of Peter Hitchens' blog (above) concerning Zuma, the persistence of African tribalism, and the generally depressing landscape of South Africa. As a South African, I would love to be convinced that we . .more are not heading inexorably down the same path of Zimbabwe, DRC, Zambia and many other failed African states. Why should I stay? Why should my children stay? . .less by Paul on April 09 2009, 00:01 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Sad Days Right now, I'm feeling saddened by the apparent truth of Peter Hitchens' blog (above) concerning Zuma, the persistence of African tribalism, and the generally depressing landscape of South Africa. As a South African, I would love to be convinced that we . .more are not heading inexorably down the same path of Zimbabwe, DRC, Zambia and many other failed African states. Why should I stay? Why should my children stay? . .less by Paul on April 09 2009, 00:03 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

JJ you are the one who is stupid Zille is right. By dropping the charges, the principle of innocent until proven guilty also falls away; because it only applies to an accused person. Zuma is no longer accused. He is just plain guilty. Read the Shaik trial and tell us why he is not . .more guilty. Zuma is also lying when he says the money he received from Shaik were loans. Judge Squires found (it is in the judgement) that these were NOT loans. Zuma should have just shut up. We are not fools.. only those who believe Zuma is innocent are fools. . .less by Thokozile on April 09 2009, 02:33 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

We know a snake when we see one No way this man is innocent. And now about to be entrusted with the highest office in the land !! God help us all. by Reitz on April 09 2009, 08:25 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

No jj, the state hasn't failed to prove Zuma's guilt They've been PREVENTED from doing so - Zuma and his top legal team have spent huge amounts of tax payers money to prevent the case going to court - that's why he must be considered "guilty until proved innocent". Without having unlimited tax . .more payers money to play with, Zuma would have gone to court long ago. And he would by now be in prison. . .less by Sad Days on April 09 2009, 08:39 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Vaaltyn and the aardvark hole In 1947 I lived with my parents on a plot west of Pretoria. I guess we were "disadvaranged" -- no electricity, no bathroom and a puffadder-infested longdrop outside. And my father and his brother had built the house and thatched it with their own hands. . .more But I was not disadvantaged -- I had a donkey called Vaaltyn. One Sunday in 1947 Vaaltyn stuck his head in an aardvark hole and my father and neighbours battled for hours to rescue him. A year later, the whole country stuck its head in an aardvark hole. I woke up this morning, read about Zuma's attack on the judiciary, and realised that 62 years later, the country still has its head stuck in that hole. Except that we are not talking about a donkey here -- donkeys are inncocent. And we are not talking about an aardvark hole. We are talking about a cesspool. But, years later at university, I learnt about hubris and what it inevitably led to. I'm waiting ..... . .less by Sagmoedige Neelsie on April 09 2009, 09:02 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Conserve the Constitution What our less-than-well-read compatriot, Zuma, doesn't realise, is that it was the Consitutional Court which - during the years of Nat Party rule - would often have been his only means of protection against the corrupt policies of the politicians . .more then. How ironic, now that he is one of those corrupt politicians, that he seeks to destroy his former protector. Face up to the truth Zuma: you know as well as we do the nature of your guilt. . .less by Ingrid Mantero on April 09 2009, 09:23 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Zuma MY and YOUR PRESIDENT Judge Zille when did you test evidence against Zuma? Zuma will be your president - you like it or not you all must get that in your tick heads! by ZILLE on April 09 2009, 09:25 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

current danger We have precious little time now to decide South Africa's future, fellow South Africans!! We MUST support the DA's application for review of this muddy, obviously politically-motivated dropping of charges against JZ, or else we will be re-defined by the . .more rest of the economically viable world as "just another failed, corrupt African state". There is still a chance to avoid this ... support Zille's stand! . .less by Wanting a future on April 09 2009, 09:57 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Stupid Zille there she goes again A person may never be found innocent in legal language. A person is either found 'guilty' or 'not guilty'. IF s/he is found 'not guilty', it does not mean that such a person was innocent. That person may have been found not guilty due to lack of evidence, . .more the tainted manner in which such evidence was obtained. Yes Zuma may not be innocent, but your darlings McCarthy, Thabo and Ngcuka messed up the case. Zuma has indeed not been found guilty by any court, charges withdrawn against him. For goodness sake, can you stop being obsessed about ZUma and tell us what the DA wants to do for SOuth Africans, unless, of course, you want to become Zuma's 7th wife----Helen Zille-Zuma, the zanny zealot!!!!. . .less by Malema on April 09 2009, 10:30 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@JJ JJ reckons that a person that realy commits a crime will be innocent if the prosecutors messed up. So, to all criminals out there, just pay your prosecutor to mess up and you will be freed. This is the type of mentality in the majority of ANC . .more supporters and the sad thing is that the future generations of our kids (JJ's included) will suffer. I dont expect JJ to understand the power of a democracy becuase I believe he hates whites and is a racist! Typical ANC supporter. . .less by J on April 09 2009, 10:34 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

"ZILLE" unwilling to admit admiration By assuming the pen-name "Zille" I fear our Zuma supporter (who asks us to - quite impossibly, for biological reasons - get things into our "tick heads") is unwittingly revealing a degree of respect for Helen Zille, much though he may wish to deny it. by SOS on April 09 2009, 10:44 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@ JJ and the other stupid fools JJ you say the state has failed to prove Zuma's guilt. Sorry to say but it appears YOU are the stupid one here, Zuma has not appeared in Court so that the State can prove anything. That is all that we want: we only want Zuma to go to Court so that the . .more State can prove whether he is guilty or not. Are you Zuma supporters really too stupid to understand that? We can understand that you want him to lead this country whether guilty or not because you worship a corrupt system, but please try and understand where intelligent people come from. To my mind, if Zuma never appears in Court, the State should apologise to Schabir Shaik and pay him handsomely for the injustice done to him. Obviously he was not treated with the same favour as Zuma. This is one sorry state of affairs. . .less by Not your fool on April 09 2009, 10:57 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Zuma The level of intelegence regarding the comments made by JJ and the ANC's like minded supporters is glaringly apparent. With all the information on hand regarding the Zuma case, it is plain to see the ANC's meddling in the judiciary. I fear that minority . .more South Africans are indeed in for a hard time should this man come to power in this country. Him and his cronies use the words democracy and non-racialism when refering to the "new" SA, but their intent is so obviously the opposite. They are busy taking and using what the forefathers of minority South Africans built and trashing it !! It happened in Zimbabwe and other African states, and will surely happen here if minority South Africans allow it. believe that the only manner in which to "check" this political party's abuse of power is to vote for any party except the ANC. Many black South Africans have at last seen through the shallow promises of the ANC and have turned their allegience to other parties. The time is now ripe for all South Africans to use their vote wisely. What they vote for now will have a huge impact on the future of this country !! . .less by Taxpayer on April 09 2009, 11:40 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

worms Of course Zuma has not been found guilty or innocent in a court of law. But THAT is exactly the problem. Never mind all the technicalities surrounding this episode, the people of SA are entitled to hear the full content of these so-called tapes. We as . .more taxpayers paid more than R10 million for this book, as it were, and we are entitled to read it to the last page. I have a slight suspicions these past pages contain names that make a lot of people jump upright with fright in the middle of the night, if it has to comes to light. This whole thing is like a can of worms giving off a bad smell. . .less by jaycee on April 09 2009, 12:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Zanu PF mindset JJ is typical of the mindset in Zimbabwe a 15years ago who lauded Mugabe actions even though were glaringly criminal.You get the goverment you deserve by who you vote for but this time dont think you can play the apartheid card in the UN again because the . .more ANC have no credibilty left. . .less by Mike on April 09 2009, 12:29 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Sad days Zuma has been to court what- 10 or 12 times. Even the charges were dropped in court! He is innocent. The state has no case. Their incompetent prosecutors messed up a case they had manufactured. Their so called corruption case was very weak. As Bulelani . .more said- it was unwinnable, because it did n't exist in the first place. Why would anyone bribe an MEC to secure a tender with the national government? Why would anyone bribe a co-conspirator to protect them from investigation? The Zuma case does n't pass any logical test. If you had bothered to hear Squires' convoluted legal reasoning, you would know this. . .less by jj on April 10 2009, 04:10 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Paul Leave. If you can n't go to Australia, go to Orania. I'm certain that's not too expensive. by jj on April 10 2009, 04:16 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Is Zuma innocent? Millions of uninformed South Africans -- and millions of voters exposed to ANC lies and bullying) -- believe that because Zuma has not been found guilty by a court, he is necessarily innocent. A short list of others not found guilty by a court . .more of law, but surely not innocent? Tapeworms Anopheles mosquitoes Al Capone (not found guilty of murder and racketeering -- but the taxman put him away for life. Pasop Zuma! I hear a SARS audit is coming your way] Puffadders Landmines and AK47s Papa Doc Duvalier Joseph Stalin Adolph Hitler the tick on my dog's backside ........ . .less by Pecksniff on April 10 2009, 10:33 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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