Timeline set for Zuma Corruption Charges Review application
16 March 2015
Today the North Gauteng High Court heard the next step in the DA's application for the 783 counts of corruption, fraud and racketeering to be reinstated against President Jacob Zuma. The DA is pleased that the Court and all other parties have agreed to a timeline of how the matter should be dealt with going forward.
The timeline (as outlined in the DA's draft order below) moving forward stipulates that:
The acting National Director of Public Prosecutions (acting NDPP) must file their Answering Affidavit in the main application by 30 March 2015;
The President Jacob Zuma's counsel must file its Answering Affidavit in the main application by 15 April 2015;
The DA needs to file its Replying Affidavit by 8 May 2015;
The DA must file its Heads of Argument by 26 May 2015;
The acting NDPP and President Zuma's counsel need to file their Heads of Argument by 10 June 2015;
The parties' are to approach the Deputy Judge President after 10 June 2015 for a date for the hearing of this matter in the third motion court; and
The costs of this application filed by the DA are reserved.
The DA remains confident that the contents of the so-called "Spy Tapes" justify a review of the decision to withdraw charges of corruption against President Zuma.
Considering that this matter has taken almost six years to get to this point, the DA will submit to the Deputy Judge President (on 10 June 2015) that this matter be heard and dealt with expeditiously.
It is an absolute outrage that President Zuma has, over the last six years, used taxpayer's money to bankroll the his opposition to the release of the Spy Tapes. In the end the President's legal counsel was forced to concede before Supreme Court judges that they had no case.
The DA contends that the resolution of this matter cannot be delayed any further and that justice must be carried out in a timeous fashion.
Text of the DA's draft order:
IN THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA
GAUTENG DIVISION, PRETORIA
Before the Honourable Justice
On this 16 March 2015
Case no: 19577/09
In the matter between:
DEMCRACTIC ALLIANCE - Applicant
and
THE ACTING NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS - First Respondent
THE HEAD OF DIRECTORATE OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS - Second Respondent
JACOB GEDLEYIHLEKISA ZUMA - Third Respondent
DRAFT ORDER
Having read the papers filed of record, having heard counsel and having considered the matter it is ordered that:
- The First Respondent file its Answering Affidavit in the main application by 30 March 2015;
- The Third Respondent file its Answering Affidavit in the main application by 15 April 2015;
- The Applicant file its Replying Affidavit by 8 May 2015;
- The Applicant file its Heads of Argument by 26 May 2015;
- The First and Third Respondent file their Heads of Argument by 10 June 2015;
- The parties' are to approach the Deputy Judge President after 10 June 2015 for an expedited date for the hearing of this matter in the third motion court; and
- The costs of this application filed by the Applicant are reserved.
BY ORDER
REGISTRAR
ENDS
Statement issued by James Selfe MP, Chairperson of the DA's Federal Executive, March 16 2015
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