ANC NOTES APPEAL COURT JUDGEMENT ON NPA APPEAL

The African National Congress (ANC) has noted the Appeal Court judgement on the National Prosecuting Authority's appeal against the Pietermaritzburg High Court decision last September that halted the prosecution of ANC President Jacob Zuma.

It is important to note that this judgement has nothing to do with the guilt or otherwise of the ANC President. Nor does it make any pronouncements on the merits of the charges previously brought by the NPA.

The ANC respects the decision of the court without reservation.

The ANC and its President reserves the right to pursue all options available in law.

The ANC reiterates its position that the judgement will not affect the decision of the ANC that Zuma be the ANC's presidential candidate for the 2009 elections.

The ANC will not accept that a decision democratically taken by the ANC membership at its national conference be reversed on the basis of untested allegations.

Statement issued by Jessie Duarte, National Spokesperson of the African National Congress, January 12 2009