SCA Ruling: NPA must now proceed with its prosecution of Jacob Zuma

The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the decision by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) to uphold the appeal by the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) against a ruling of the Pietermaritzburg High Court in the case involving ANC President, Jacob Zuma.

The onus is now on the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to resume its prosecution of Zuma. The NPA must immediately dismiss speculation that it is willing to drop the charges against Zuma and broker a special deal for him.

As Judge Chris Nicholson himself noted in the Pietermaritzburg High Court: "A prosecutor has a duty to prosecute if there is a prima facie case and if there is no compelling reason for a refusal to prosecute".

The SCA has underscored that finding.

Zuma is charged with 783 counts of corruption and bribery involving R4.2-million over a ten year period. He must answer these charges in court and, if he is to honour the undertaking in the ANC's manifesto to step up the fight against corruption in its ranks, he should renounce his candidature for the presidency.

Statement issued by Democratic Alliance leader, Helen Zille, January 12 2009