“All Zuma Wants Is A Fair Trial And Will Leave No Stone Unturned”
The new judgement by the Supreme Court of Appeals (SCA) is “disappointing but not unexpected,” according to the Jacob Zuma Foundation.
Former President Jacob Zuma’s request for leave to appeal his corruption conviction was denied by the appeals court. This included an attempt to get state prosecutor Billy Downer removed from the case.
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Zuma’s trial for corruption is set to begin on April 11. He and French arms company Thales are accused of corruption, racketeering, fraud, and money laundering linked to the multibillion-rand arms deal.
The former president’s legal team will approach the president of the SCA for clarification on the ruling, according to the foundation. It said it was “astounded” by the decision’s “glaring vagueness and ambiguity.”
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“A blanket approach and routine order of dismissal do not provide the required clarity. Court judgments are there to provide legal certainty and clarity so subjective inferences are avoided.
“All litigants are entitled to know the exact and real reasons why their cases are successful or not, and this is not the case here,” claimed the foundation.
Zuma had briefed his legal team to do everything possible to approach the president of the SCA, in accordance with the relevant legislation, to seek suitable remedies such as reconsideration, variation, or explanation of the judgement, according to the foundation.
“All that Zuma wants is a fair trial, and will leave no stone unturned to ensure the constitutional promise of the rule of law and equality before the law is evenly applied to all,” said the foundation.
“For the criminal trial to proceed under the present conditions while these legal protections are being pursued would be a travesty of justice and a vindictive assault on our constitution,” it said.
However, his “special plea” to have Downer removed from his corruption prosecution was dismissed by Pietermaritzburg trial court judge Piet Koen. Zuma had filed a “special plea” under the Criminal Procedure Act, questioning Downer’s “ability to prosecute.”
However, Koen found that any alleged violation of Zuma’s fair trial rights should be decided at the conclusion of the criminal trial and that Zuma’s chances of appealing were slim.
To: All Media and the People of South Africa and the world. pic.twitter.com/1y4q3GX0c2
— JGZuma Foundation (Official) (@JGZ_Foundation) April 2, 2022
