Thabo Mbeki Foundation urges NPA to bring speedy finalisation to corruption case against Zuma.
The Thabo Mbeki Foundation has urged the National Prosecuting Authority to act speedily and bring finalisation to the corruption case against President Jacob Zuma‚ saying the matter has caused the country undue and unnecessary strain for more than a decade and a half.
The Supreme Court of Appeal on Friday dismissed a bid by Zuma to appeal a previous ruling that he could face 783 corruption-related charges.
Zuma and the National Prosecuting Authority had asked the court to overturn a Pretoria High Court judgment that the charges could be reinstated.
SCA dismisses Zuma appeal on corruption charges
However‚ during arguments at the Supreme Court of Appeal last month Zuma conceded that the decision to withdraw the charges was irrational‚ as the High Court had ruled.
In a statement on Sunday‚ the Thabo Mbeki Foundation (TMF) said it had noted “with renewed hope”‚ the Supreme Court of Appeal judgment.
“The TMF also notes that this judgment has set the parties involved and the country on a course that hopefully will soon bring to finality the matter which has caused the country undue and unnecessary strain for more than a decade and a half‚” it stated.
The foundation pointed out that while delivering the President’s report at the ANC’s 52nd National Conference in Polokwane‚ then president Thabo Mbeki had conceded that‚ “one of the most difficult and painful challenges [the ANC has] faced over the last five years have arisen around out of matters affecting our Deputy President. Part of the difficulty we faced in this regard‚ which has resulted in many of our members criticising the NEC for failing to provide leadership‚ was that here we were dealing with an unprecedented situation‚ and therefore had no body of experience that would help our leadership and movement to deal with this situation adequately. All of us hope that we will and can put these matters behind us sooner rather than later.”
Polokwane conference‚ timing bad reasons for NPA to drop Zuma’s 783 charges: SCA
The foundation said that‚ sadly‚ almost decade since this statement was made‚ this matter “has visited upon our country‚ its people and our justice system‚ long lasting consequences reaching far beyond our borders”.
“We also hope‚ that the judgment will finally put to rest‚ what has been over this period‚ a sustained narrative‚ devoid of truth and factual basis‚ that President Mbeki unduly interfered with law enforcement agencies in an effort to ensure the Prosecution of President Zuma‚ an otherwise innocent figure‚ in an effort to prevent him from assuming the office of the Presidency of the ANC and eventually that of the Republic. On this instance‚ one Mr Willie Hofmeyr‚ disingenuously sought to sustain this false narrative‚ in a futile effort to aid the NPA’s case.
“As Judge Navsa correctly observed‚ Mr Hofmeyr‚ is ‘an experienced litigator who should know better than to present the case in the manner described in this matter. Professedly advancing the case of NPA’s independence and integrity‚ he achieved the exactly the opposite’.
“As we welcome‚ once again‚ the formal vindication of our Patron‚ as the TMF however we derive no joy‚ due to immense damage this case has caused to our body politic and our country’s institutions‚ a phenomenon which continues unabated and will take many years to restore‚” the foundation’s statement read.
It added: “It is a shame that we have in our country people charged with the responsibility of dispensing justice for the sustenance of our Constitutional democracy who finds it apposite that they can use such positions for the exact opposite ends‚ regardless of the consequences of their behaviour‚ as in the case of Mr Hofmeyr.
“All what is required in this regard‚ is for the parties to do what in law they are required to do.
“We would like to urge the NPA‚ therefore‚ to act accordingly and speedily‚ in the interest of justice and the country‚ in order to bring to finality a matter Justice Navsa correctly described‚ quoting TS Eliot‚ ‘the recurrent end of the unending’.”
Thabo Mbeki Foundation urges NPA to bring speedy finalisation to corruption case against Zuma
Thabo Mbeki Foundation urges NPA to bring speedy finalisation to corruption case against Zuma.
The Thabo Mbeki Foundation has urged the National Prosecuting Authority to act speedily and bring finalisation to the corruption case against President Jacob Zuma‚ saying the matter has caused the country undue and unnecessary strain for more than a decade and a half.
The Supreme Court of Appeal on Friday dismissed a bid by Zuma to appeal a previous ruling that he could face 783 corruption-related charges.
Zuma and the National Prosecuting Authority had asked the court to overturn a Pretoria High Court judgment that the charges could be reinstated.
SCA dismisses Zuma appeal on corruption charges
However‚ during arguments at the Supreme Court of Appeal last month Zuma conceded that the decision to withdraw the charges was irrational‚ as the High Court had ruled.
In a statement on Sunday‚ the Thabo Mbeki Foundation (TMF) said it had noted “with renewed hope”‚ the Supreme Court of Appeal judgment.
“The TMF also notes that this judgment has set the parties involved and the country on a course that hopefully will soon bring to finality the matter which has caused the country undue and unnecessary strain for more than a decade and a half‚” it stated.
The foundation pointed out that while delivering the President’s report at the ANC’s 52nd National Conference in Polokwane‚ then president Thabo Mbeki had conceded that‚ “one of the most difficult and painful challenges [the ANC has] faced over the last five years have arisen around out of matters affecting our Deputy President. Part of the difficulty we faced in this regard‚ which has resulted in many of our members criticising the NEC for failing to provide leadership‚ was that here we were dealing with an unprecedented situation‚ and therefore had no body of experience that would help our leadership and movement to deal with this situation adequately. All of us hope that we will and can put these matters behind us sooner rather than later.”
Polokwane conference‚ timing bad reasons for NPA to drop Zuma’s 783 charges: SCA
The foundation said that‚ sadly‚ almost decade since this statement was made‚ this matter “has visited upon our country‚ its people and our justice system‚ long lasting consequences reaching far beyond our borders”.
“We also hope‚ that the judgment will finally put to rest‚ what has been over this period‚ a sustained narrative‚ devoid of truth and factual basis‚ that President Mbeki unduly interfered with law enforcement agencies in an effort to ensure the Prosecution of President Zuma‚ an otherwise innocent figure‚ in an effort to prevent him from assuming the office of the Presidency of the ANC and eventually that of the Republic. On this instance‚ one Mr Willie Hofmeyr‚ disingenuously sought to sustain this false narrative‚ in a futile effort to aid the NPA’s case.
“As Judge Navsa correctly observed‚ Mr Hofmeyr‚ is ‘an experienced litigator who should know better than to present the case in the manner described in this matter. Professedly advancing the case of NPA’s independence and integrity‚ he achieved the exactly the opposite’.
“As we welcome‚ once again‚ the formal vindication of our Patron‚ as the TMF however we derive no joy‚ due to immense damage this case has caused to our body politic and our country’s institutions‚ a phenomenon which continues unabated and will take many years to restore‚” the foundation’s statement read.
It added: “It is a shame that we have in our country people charged with the responsibility of dispensing justice for the sustenance of our Constitutional democracy who finds it apposite that they can use such positions for the exact opposite ends‚ regardless of the consequences of their behaviour‚ as in the case of Mr Hofmeyr.
“All what is required in this regard‚ is for the parties to do what in law they are required to do.
“We would like to urge the NPA‚ therefore‚ to act accordingly and speedily‚ in the interest of justice and the country‚ in order to bring to finality a matter Justice Navsa correctly described‚ quoting TS Eliot‚ ‘the recurrent end of the unending’.”
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