Opposition in South Africa lashes at the prosecution for dropping the case against Zuma

April 6th, 2009

 

Johannesburg (South Africa) - Reaction from opposition parties to the decision today by the National Prosecution Authority to drop charges of corruption, bribery, fraud and racketeering against the ANC president has – as might have been expected – been universally hostile.

Helen Zille, the leader of the Democratic Alliance, says that she is consulting her lawyers, "We are not going to let the matter lie down. We are consulting for legal advice," Zille told reporters outside the NPA’s office in Pretoria.

Bantu Holomisa, the leader of the United Democratic Movement, describes the decision as shameful. "People must brace themselves, our justice system is crumbling. To remedy this situation the voters need to express their disgust at the polls.

"This is the culmination of the campaign of the dodgy characters in the ANC to reduce this country to a banana republic – people must remember that a vast number of NEC (national executive council) members have faced or are facing charges," Holomisa said.

The Congress of the People said that the NPA’s decision does not safeguard justice, due process or equality before the law. Instead, it

guarantees that the president of the African National Congress, and the party’s presidential candidate, will forever be branded a criminal suspect in the eyes of much of the nation and the world.

The leader of the Inkatha Freedom Party called it "unfortunate". He added: "I feel the charges will now be a shadow over him as our head of state."

However the ANC Youth League called on the NPA "to do the right and remove its hands from Mr. JG Zuma".

"Let him go as a free man as this is a well-orchestrated conspiracy against the soon to be president of the Republic," the league said.

source.Business Day (South Africa)