Anna Majavu
Anna Majavu
The Cape high court yesterday threw out a bid by a pro-Zuma legal group to have the date of the National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) appeal against the dismissal of Zuma's corruption charges postponed until after next year's elections.
On Friday, the NPA is appealing Judge Chris Nicholson's decision to scrap charges of corruption against Jacob Zuma in the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Bloemfontein.
The Society for the Protection of our Constitution had asked the Cape high court to postpone the appeal case until after next year's elections.
They argued that for the presidential candidate of the ruling party to be tied up in what could be a lengthy court case would deprive Zuma of his chance to campaign and would violate section 19 (2) of the Constitution, which guarantees everyone the right to free and fair elections.
But acting Cape judge president Jeanette Traverso said the date had been set by the president of the SCA, and not the court registrar.
"How can a puny little judge like me interfere with the SCA?" she asked the lawyers.
The society's advocate, Zehir Omar, told Sowetan it was "most unusual" for the president of the SCA to set a court date.
Court throws out pro-Zuma bid
Anna Majavu
Anna Majavu
The Cape high court yesterday threw out a bid by a pro-Zuma legal group to have the date of the National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) appeal against the dismissal of Zuma's corruption charges postponed until after next year's elections.
On Friday, the NPA is appealing Judge Chris Nicholson's decision to scrap charges of corruption against Jacob Zuma in the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Bloemfontein.
The Society for the Protection of our Constitution had asked the Cape high court to postpone the appeal case until after next year's elections.
They argued that for the presidential candidate of the ruling party to be tied up in what could be a lengthy court case would deprive Zuma of his chance to campaign and would violate section 19 (2) of the Constitution, which guarantees everyone the right to free and fair elections.
But acting Cape judge president Jeanette Traverso said the date had been set by the president of the SCA, and not the court registrar.
"How can a puny little judge like me interfere with the SCA?" she asked the lawyers.
The society's advocate, Zehir Omar, told Sowetan it was "most unusual" for the president of the SCA to set a court date.
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