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 Zuma charges 'to be dropped'
    Karyn Maughan
    March 18 2009 at 07:17AM 		Get IOL on your
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After eight years of investigation and court battles costing at least R100-million, moves are afoot to drop the criminal charges against Jacob Zuma.

The Star has been reliably informed that top-ranking National Prosecuting Authority officials intend to withdraw the 16 charges against the ANC president and are in the course of formulating how this process would be "managed".

Sources say the main reason advanced is that the prosecution does not have "a winnable case".

A crucial meeting of NPA staff central to the case was scheduled for today to discuss the matter.

But while the mooted withdrawal of the case against Zuma has been confirmed by several sources, NPA spokesperson Tlali Tlali yesterday told The Star that no decision had been finalised.
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"The NPA is applying its mind in this regard, and once a decision to forge ahead has been taken, the NPA will communicate to Mr Zuma's lawyers.

"The National Director of Public Prosecutions would like to reiterate that no communiqué carrying such a message has been sent from the NPA to Mr Zuma's lawyers."

Zuma's lawyer, Michael Hulley, yesterday said no decision had been communicated to him.

A source within Zuma's legal team has, however, communicated their dissatisfaction about leaks on the withdrawal of the charges, blaming them on an unidentified prosecutor "who wants to mess with the process".

Zuma's lawyers filed substantial submissions with the NPA last month, in which they argued for all charges to be dropped.

Two separate sources said the team returned upbeat and were of the opinion that it was favourably considered.

A reliable source confirmed yesterday that senior ANC leaders were aware that the "decision is coming" - a move that would boost the party's election campaign.

Meanwhile, Zuma's Mauritian legal team were due to appear today in the Mauritian Supreme Court, where they seek to challenge a ruling stopping Zuma from intervening in the NPA's efforts to obtain potential evidence against him.


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Showing page 1 of 10 comment pages, 96 total comments
45 Weeks ago Anonymous wrote :
shut down all prisons freedom for one is a freedom for for all
46 Weeks ago Anonymous wrote :
I think anyone who has morals and is in LAW School needs to get out now.
papana Zuma remember "akunaSmakadze somhlaba" you might get off now but be prepaired to see the same people that pulled strings to get you where you are stab you in the back.
I wonder what kind of a president you will make that has no form of authority above the same people you "lead"....where we come from leaders are chooses because they can give guidance but not to be controlled.
As for the NPA....you need to vanish now and never show your faces...this was innavidable.....
lets cast our votes South African for the benefit of out children and let us anticipate and out burst in the future....
god bless you all
46 Weeks ago KAREN wrote :
it doesn't matter what you write....the masses are illiterate.....and those are the people that are going to vote.....it is most unfortunate.....but the anc will be in power for a long time......until we all stand together against them.....proudly south african.....i think not.....ashamedly south african.....definately
46 Weeks ago JR wrote :
If they drop the charges then this is soudning the deathbell for Democracy and rule of law in South Africa - Welcome to Zimbabwe 2

And a message to Zuma - God does not support you, you will face his judgement as you know you will.
46 Weeks ago Anonymous wrote :
If Zuma's cases are really dropped, then South Africa is a BANANA Republic. We have been saying this all along that there is no difference between ZANU PF and the current ANC.POOR NPA, why defend yourself where as the writting is on the wall. You do not have power and you are not Independent at all. People should really not be blinded. We are not stupid at all.
46 Weeks ago Vote wrote :
Slindile, when you go home today look around you. Look at how poor people are. Look at how bad the hospitals are. Look at how poor sick people suffer. Look at crime. Then you ask yourself, why is my country like this? Why is my country not as rich as other countries? Then go home and look in the mirror, the answer will be staring back at you. But knock yourself out mate, go vote for someone who don’t care about you.
46 Weeks ago VivaCorruption wrote :
Slindile my friend you are so right. Here is a banana for you. Viva banana Viva.
46 Weeks ago T.I.A wrote :
T.I.A

It just shocks me, who are these followers of Mr.Zuma?

Are they all as shady as the man they are willing to call their leader?

The country is reflected in it's leader, how can we look up to a man who has more cases and charges against him than most criminals in South Africa.

Are we proud of this man?

This just seems so wrong?!?!

who is next in line? Malema!!!!!

46 Weeks ago G*TVOL wrote :
SLINDILE - You are obviously so highly educated regarding our political system, but please do try the Microsoft Word Spell check BEFORE you click on "submit comment" - Just a question - what grade are you in now?
46 Weeks ago Slindile wrote :
lol@ Batista

MY VISION
MY FUTURE
MY VOTE
MY ANC

God hears all does not respond to all at once.
ANC has done good work and will continue to do so.

Maybe Zuma was guilty of corruption, but was R1m worth R10m??? just bcos they wanna see him behind bars???

ANC has learnt something hopefully and they will now tread carefully and focus on service delivery. We do not deny that they have done well but there is stilol a lot to be done. Now ANC must fokus on the people whilst all the other parties waste their time and our time by focusing on the ANC and nothing else!!!

ANC will win 2009...

As one analyst said

Morality issues

Voters dont care...its a very hard fact!!!

This country was runned badly for such a long time and now people wanna complain about a mistake that was done by the ANC??? is it THAT bad??? Those who say ANC followers are blind...wena WAKE UP, corruption is everywhere. From when u give a traffic officer some money to let u go, give someone some turn a blind eye cash to get your drivers license etc...

I for one do not believe he is innocent...i aint blind... I get away with paying off a traffic cop, He deals with bigb money so for him, it will be big money involved, we still all corrupt, but its life, get over it already!!!


Zuma for President whether u like it or not.

Dandala aint taking it...There already is a christian party...we dont believe the hype!!!(Edited by IOL)
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