The Congress of the People (Cope) wants President Jacob Zuma to show “the same kind of bravery” that Julius Malema displayed.
In a statement on Monday‚ Cope spokesperson Dennis Bloem hinted at government having pressured the South African Revenue Service into trying to sequestrate the Economic Freedom Fighters leader in court.
“The extent to which the ruling party has been using instruments of state for blatant political ends is thoroughly alarming‚” said Bloom.
On Monday‚ in the Pretoria High Court‚ SARS’ advocate Nic Maritz told Judge Gregory Wright that his client had instructed him to withdraw the application for a final sequestration.
Malema had been placed under provisional sequestration in February last year because of a tax debt of R18-million for the period 2005 to 2011.
In May 2014‚ Malema signed a compromise offer with SARS‚ agreeing to pay R7.2-million.
Should SARS have succeeded in its application Malema would be prohibited from sitting in Parliament.
“The fact that the case was withdrawn inside a day‚ is evident that SARS did not have a strong case in the first place‚” said Bloom.
“It must have proceeded to court‚ not on its own initiative but under possible pressure from somewhere else. If that is the case‚ the tarnished image of SARS will be in tatters. This cannot happen.”
He said that Zuma should‚ like Malema‚ “go to court and clear his name”.
“He must have his day in court in respect of the 700 or more corruption charges he faces. Rather than corrupting the criminal justice system‚ he should let the courts pronounce whether he is innocent or not‚” said Bloom.
“He must therefore let the courts convince the rest of us as to the validity of his presumption of innocence.”
Zuma should show ‘bravery’ like Malema: Cope
The Congress of the People (Cope) wants President Jacob Zuma to show “the same kind of bravery” that Julius Malema displayed.
In a statement on Monday‚ Cope spokesperson Dennis Bloem hinted at government having pressured the South African Revenue Service into trying to sequestrate the Economic Freedom Fighters leader in court.
“The extent to which the ruling party has been using instruments of state for blatant political ends is thoroughly alarming‚” said Bloom.
On Monday‚ in the Pretoria High Court‚ SARS’ advocate Nic Maritz told Judge Gregory Wright that his client had instructed him to withdraw the application for a final sequestration.
Malema had been placed under provisional sequestration in February last year because of a tax debt of R18-million for the period 2005 to 2011.
In May 2014‚ Malema signed a compromise offer with SARS‚ agreeing to pay R7.2-million.
Should SARS have succeeded in its application Malema would be prohibited from sitting in Parliament.
“The fact that the case was withdrawn inside a day‚ is evident that SARS did not have a strong case in the first place‚” said Bloom.
“It must have proceeded to court‚ not on its own initiative but under possible pressure from somewhere else. If that is the case‚ the tarnished image of SARS will be in tatters. This cannot happen.”
He said that Zuma should‚ like Malema‚ “go to court and clear his name”.
“He must have his day in court in respect of the 700 or more corruption charges he faces. Rather than corrupting the criminal justice system‚ he should let the courts pronounce whether he is innocent or not‚” said Bloom.
“He must therefore let the courts convince the rest of us as to the validity of his presumption of innocence.”
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