Off the wire
• China Focus: The transformation of Tangshan  • China rebukes U.S. official's criticism on South China Sea arbitration  • Interview: Confucius Institutes enhance China-Egypt ties: director  • European Commission proposes signature, conclusion of EU-US data protection Umbrella Agreement  • Xi urges sound economic development, noting downward pressure  • Roundup: Xi urges intellectuals, workers and youth for national revival  • Eurozone unemployment rate hits lowest since August 2011  • Namibia to host int'l wildlife ranching symposium  • 2nd LD Writethru: Two men accused of giving money to Brussels attacks suspect  • Roundup: Financial squeeze calls for alternatives in Somalia war  
You are here: 　 Home

SA ruling party defends Zuma over court ruling

Xinhua, April 29, 2016 Adjust font size:

A court ruling setting aside a decision to drop corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma should not be used by any in the society to infer any culpability in any crime or offence by the president, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) said on Friday.

"Today's judgment was solely a judicial review of an administrative action taken by the NPA (National Prosecuting Authority) as allowed for in our law," the ANC said after the High Court in Pretoria set aside a 2009 decision by NPA former head Mokotedi Mpshe to drop corruption charges against Zuma.

The decision by Mpshe was irrational as he acted "alone and impulsively", the court ruled.

The ANC has noted the judgment handed down by a full bench of the court, the party's national spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said.

"It is important to note that the Court did not deal with the merits of any allegations against President Zuma nor did it make any finding declaring guilt on any matter against President Zuma," Kodwa said.

The ANC has consistently supported the legal maxim that justice delayed is justice denied, he said.

This matter has dragged on for close to a decade and the ANC is pleased therefore that it now appears closer to resolution, seven years since the NPA decision, said Kodwa.

"We once again reaffirm our full confidence in our legal system with its adequate and extensive checks and balances designed to protect and promote accountability and transparency," he said.

In Friday's ruling, the court ordered the NPA and its current head Shaun Abrahams to decide if it will recharge Zuma with the original 783 counts of corruption.

This refers to corruption charges against Zuma relating to the procurement of arms worth billions of rand in 1999.

Zuma's legal team had contested the charges through confidential representations submitted to the NPA in February 2009. Enditem