| Login |
This one-time registration is for participation in this blog.It
also enables you free access to all newnations.com reports and to receive newsletters.
If you are already registered with newnations all you now need to do is log-in.
Click Here to login/register
|
|
|
|
|
| Mission |
We tell
the world about the world
Our mission is to further the promotion of liberal democracy and the safeguarding
of the environment by the actions of accountable governments. To advance this
cause we report, without fear or favour, the affairs of nations that are in
transition, their politics, economics, business, finance and human rights -
and we tell it how it is, consistently, calmly, and objectively.
 |
|
|
Countries: South Africa |
Posted on Monday, March 31, 2008 - 11:14 AM
|
|
|
ARMS IMBROGLIO RUMBLES ON
Just weeks after ANC president Jacob Zuma flew to Mauritius in a bid to frustrate the state's bid to obtain evidence of corruption against him, President Thabo Mbeki visited that country meeting high-ranking government officials, including members of the judiciary. While in Mauritius for its 40th Independence Day celebrations, Mbeki met its president, prime minister and chief justice to discuss "political and economic matters". Mbeki is the only head of state to attend the celebrations, but officials said Zuma's case was not on the agenda. Mbeki's discussions with the Mauritian chief justice could well add impetus to Zuma's allegations that there is a political conspiracy against him aimed at denting his chances of succeeding Mbeki next year as South Africa's president. In court papers, Zuma argues that his legal troubles are the result of political conspiracy. As head of the ruling party, Zuma is first in line to take over when Mbeki steps down next year.
Zuma and Thint Say State Misinterpreted Law
Jacob Zuma’s lawyer said the point where the criminal proceedings commenced was when the accused had pleaded. In Zuma's case, the state relied on section 2(2) to gather information that could later be used as evidence because the charges against Zuma were struck off the roll in September 2006. " (Section 2(1)) is the mechanism of the trial court while 2(2) is an executive tool used to investigate crime. Investigation also means gathering all evidence so as to prosecute the case," Trengove said. J Kemp SC, for Zuma, argued that the primary purpose of section 2(2) was for the state to get information to enable it to decide whether to prosecute. Kemp said the state had not shown how it intended to use the originals in its investigation. "This is an attempt simply to get documents to present them at trial." he said. The court reserved judgment. The first two days dealt with the challenge of Zuma, his lawyer Michael Hulley and Thint against the validity of the search and seizure warrants issued by Transvaal Judge President Bernard Ngoepe in August 2005. The warrants resulted in the state seizing 93000 documents from the offices of Hulley and Thint and from the homes and former offices of Zuma.
Manuel Wins Court Order
Finance Minister Trevor Manuel has won a high court order to stop arms deal activist Terry Crawford-Browne from publishing defamatory allegations about him. Judge Andre le Grange ruled March 6 that Crawford-Browne had not provided a "shred of evidence" to support his claims in relation to Manuel and the controversial arms deal. Judge Le Grange said "a strong prima facie right to the court's protection had been established" and ordered Crawford-Browne to desist from making further defamatory allegations of corruption against Manuel, and to remove them from his website. "In my view freedom of expression does not include the right to falsely attack the integrity of a fellow citizen for selfish reasons or for reasons which have nothing to do with public benefit," the judge said. Crawford-Browne said he viewed the judgment against him as the "opportunity to reopen the whole arms deal issue.
Note: To read more, click here
|
|
|
|
|
Comments
I truly admired the entertaining and informative approach of your predictions till I came to the very end. The problems facing South Africa under the leadership of Mbeki have been dire. Mbeki's approach to AIDS, endemic violence in SA, Robert Mugabe ( and Zimbabwe's refugees in SA)and his continued denigration of Zuma have all been equally deplorable. But because Mbeki is President of the leading African democracy, the media have kept quiet about this thoroughly reprehensible figure. I have no inside knowledge about Zuma, his allegedly corrupt arms deals or his purportedly scandalous personal life. What I do know is that Mbeki has steadfastly tried to block Zuma's path to power and that in itself may be the reason that the ANC has voted for Zuma. Maybe in 2008 Mbeki will finally be exposed for what he is : a disaster !
Only logged in users are allowed to comment. register/log in