Former president Jacob Zuma’s lawyers portrayed him as a
financially drained, hated and ashamed man in court this past week, saying the
drawn-out court matter against him was taking its toll.
But Zuma appeared confident as he arrived at the
Pietermaritzburg High Court every day in a dark luxury vehicle marked
“presidential protection”, as supporters jostled to catch a glimpse of him.
In court, the aging former statesman was described as a
hated man with a ruined reputation who was being denied the right to a fair
trial.
"We sometimes forget that Mr Zuma is a human being. He
is a grandfather. He is a father. He is a brother. He has got the same feelings
that we all do. Because he has been dirtied over decades with allegations that
he is corrupt some of us see him as less of a human. He is feeling very bad
about the continuation of this matter. He has shame and pride," his
attorney, Daniel Mantsha, told
SowetanLIVE's sister publication TimesLIVE on Friday shortly after
arguments in Zuma's application for a stay of permanent prosecution ended.
But Zuma didn’t appear ashamed as he walked confidently
into court on Monday morning where his son Duduzane - who is fighting his own
legal battles in a culpable homicide case - sat in the public gallery with some
of his father's staunchest allies like Carl Niehaus and Black First Land First
leader Andile Mngxitama.
He displayed the same confidence when he walked out of
court on Friday after his advocate, Muzi Sikhakhane, argued to introduce a
letter written by former prosecutions boss Shaun Abrahams which Zuma believes
would help him to avoid facing 16 charges that include fraud‚ corruption and
racketeering.
"We hope that the court will read the letter and see
it for what it is. It is black and white. It is coming from the National
Prosecuting Authority, not from us. They, themselves believe that there is
political interference. That is why they directed the Hawks to investigate
certain prominent politicians, not only for political meddling but for
corruption and racketeering," Mantsha said.
Sikhakhane told the court that the letter spoke of bribes,
former president Thabo Mbeki and ex-justice minister Penuell Maduna.
He argued that the state could not deny that there was
political interference when, as late as March 2018, Abrahams was asking the
Hawks to investigate claims made by former Thales lawyer Ajay Sooklal that
Mbeki had allegedly instructed Maduna to drop the charges.
Sooklal claimed that Maduna was allegedly paid €50,000 to
for his part in dropping the charges.
NPA senior counsel Wim Trengove argued that the letter had
nothing to do with Zuma's case and therefore it should not be introduced in his
bid to escape facing corruption charges.
Thales is accused of agreeing to pay Zuma an annual
R500,000 bribe for protection from an investigation into the controversial
multi-billion rand arms deal. The alleged bribe was facilitated by Zuma’s
former financial adviser‚ Schabir Shaik.
Trengove accused Zuma's legal team of obtaining the letter
unlawfully as the document was privileged.
Trengove told the court that it must have been leaked from
the NPA or Hawks and asked the court not to allow Zuma's legal team to submit
the letter.
While judges Bhekisisa Mnguni, Thoba Poyo-Dlwati and Ester
Steyn deliberate over both applications over the next three months, Zuma's
legal team plans to release more evidence to show that the NPA is
"untruthful".
As Zuma took the stage to address his supporters on Friday
afternoon, Mantsha said: "Wait and see."
"They are many documents that are going to come into
light in a few days and weeks in respect that the NPA has been untruthful,”
said Mantsha, who did not want to say when and how these documents had come
into the Zuma camp’s possession.
“We have to make further applications. We will do whatever
we have to do in terms of our laws, to bring those to the attention of our
courts.” Sowetan
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