AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER
IN defiance of the conditions of his suspension, ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule has addressed a group of party members who had gathered outside the Maritzburg High Court to support former President Jacob Zuma on the first trial of his corruption trial.
Magashule told the gathering that “I will never be banned from the ANC”.
He said he will never leave the ANC.”I will die in the ANC,” he added.
His stance, which is expected to attract possible new charges, is in violation of his suspension conditions, which says that he is not allowed to, among others, represent the ANC in any capacity, make any public pronouncement on their suspension and mobilise any ANC structures.
Magashule has taken the ANC to court, challenging the suspension and asking the court to find that his own suspension of ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa was valid and lawful. The ANC announced yesterday that it will defend the matter in court.
Magashule and ANC MP, Supra Mahumapelo, also suspended, were among the party members who were in the Maritzburg Magistrates’s Court to support ex-president Jacob Zuma on the first day of his corruption trial.
Magashule and Mahumapelo sat next to each other in the public gallery. Two benches in front of them sat KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala. Two benches behind them was Zuma’s son Duduzane. Carl Niehaus, a spokesperson of a faction of the ANC’s Umkhonto we Sizwe veterans, an ever-present at Zuma’s trials, was also in the courtroom. Also in court was ANC MP Bongani Bongo, also suspended because he is facing criminal charges.
Patricia de Lille, the South African Minister of Public Works and the first witness for the State, sat in the front bench, a few meters away from Zuma, who came to court today wearing a three-piece navy suit.
Outside court, Zuma’s supporters, clad in ANC and Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans’ colours, sang and danced.
Inside court, there was a delay before the start of the trial, possibly caused by the fact that Zuma has new lawyers. His previous representatives dumped him a few weeks ago.
Accordingly, the first matter that the court dealt with after the start of the trial was the formal withdrawal of Advocate Eric Mabuza as Zuma’s attorneys. Advocate Thabani Masuku, instructed by Tusini Attorneys, is Zuma’s new representative.
Zuma was not asked to plead and Judge Piet Koen postponed the matter to May 26 so that his lawyers can submit affidavits in support of a special plea that the former president wishes to enter. Masuku indicated to the court that he has a not guilty plea ready. He also told the court that Zuma is “ready and has always been ready” to proceed with the trial.
His lawyers are also expected to file an application for the lead State prosecutor Billy Downer to recuse himself.
The appearance of Zuma follows 17-year of delays, twists and turns.
Zuma appeared in court today with his co-accused French arm manufacturer Thales and after exchanges between the prosecution and defence on the readiness for trial.
The matter that relates to the allegations of fraud and corruption related to the 1999 multi-billion arms deal. Zuma is facing 784 charges. He is accused of accepting millions of rand in corrupt benefits from his former financial adviser Schabir Shaik, in return for using his position in the government to advance Shaik’s business interests. Shaik was convicted and jailed for fraud and corruption.
Zuma also faces charges that he accepted a R500,000-a-year bribe from Thales in exchange for his political protection from any potential arms deal investigation.
