Zuma holds no grudges
8 April 2009, 06:55
By Sipho Khumalo and Moshoeshoe Monare
African National Congress President Jacob Zuma held no grudges against those people his backers believed had "conspired" against him, he told reporters on Tuesday, and he would not act in retribution against them.
However, at a rally in Durban after the charges against him had been withdrawn in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court, Zuma indirectly accused former president Thabo Mbeki of playing a role in the decision of former prosecutions chief Vusi Pikoli to charge him.
And Zuma's supporters called for the arrest of Mbeki, former National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) head Bulelani Ngcuka and former justice minister Penuell Maduna.
"Arrest Bulelani Ngcuka, arrest Thabo Mbeki and also arrest Penuell Maduna. Arrest them and give them the rights that have been denied to you," Buti Manamela of the Young Communist League said.
This was backed by Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, who said the "conspirators" should go to court.
"Bulelani Ngcuka and Mzi Khumalo must go to court. Even number one (Mbeki) must go to court," said Vavi, who added that the trade union federation had been vindicated in that Zuma had no case to face.
Ngcuka and businessman Khumalo were mentioned in Monday's briefing by acting NPA head Mokotedi Mpshe as key movers behind a plot to stop Zuma from becoming ANC president ahead of the party's national conference in Polokwane in December 2007.
However, Zuma chose the route of reconciliation and the healing of past pains, saying he would not wish for any South African to go through what he went through in the past eight years.
"Retribution will not take us anywhere. Now is the time for us to focus on improving people's lives. We want to put this episode behind us and focus on our priorities: education, health, rural development, the fight against crime and creating decent jobs despite the global economic meltdown," he said at a press conference after charges were formally dropped.
Zuma said he would hold no grudges against Ngcuka or anyone else, instead thanking people for defending his rights, which he said was tantamount to defending the constitution.
At the media briefing, Zuma said there was no evidence that Mbeki had interfered with his prosecution. However, at a rally with supporters later in the day, the ANC leader detailed the anatomy of his "political persecution", linking Mbeki's comment that "Zuma must have his day in court" with Pikoli's decision to charge him.
Addressing hundreds of supporters near the Durban harbour on Tuesday afternoon, Zuma agreed with Judge Chris Nicholson's ruling that inferred Mbeki's interference.
Referring to Mbeki's decision to fire him as the country's deputy president after the Schabir Shaik judgment, Zuma said: "(Pikoli) went to court soon after our president has just spoken in Parliament... and said that Zuma no matter what must have his day in court. I thought I didn't commit any crime. I was amazed and wondered how could I go to court when the person who said he has the case against me said the case was unwinnable?"
He added: "How is it that I must go to court when I was not charged? Who knew something that I didn't know? The Pikoli chap indeed immediately charged me."
Mbeki's spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga refused to comment, while Pikoli said: "I am tired of rejecting that thing."
In June 2005, Mbeki told Parliament: "Unambiguous as the (Shaik) judgment may be about an assumed unsavoury relationship, the deputy president has yet to have his day in court."
Zuma urged the crowd not to be vindictive against those who "abused and manipulated" state institutions to pursue his political "persecution".
At the media briefing earlier, he warned that the new administration, after the April 22 election, would not tolerate the abuse of state resources in pursuance of political agendas.
Zuma expressed concerns about the government's failure to respond to Parliament's views on how the Scorpions had been conducting their business.
Zuma rejected accusations that a "dark cloud" still hung over his head because he had not been acquitted.
"This is what people create in their minds and in the media. There is no cloud. There were charges against Zuma, but the State has decided not to proceed with its case. There were allegations made against me which I was prepared to deal with in court," he said.
He said he had always been ready to co-operate with the NPA and had presented himself in courts whenever needed.
"My quarrel with the NPA was on the methods and the motives of the investigation."
He subtly questioned the integrity of the judiciary, saying he only won cases in Durban courts, but lost "in Bloemfontein (the Supreme Court of Appeal) and Braamfontein (the Constitutional Court)".
Zuma lashed out at the opposition for trying to reopen the case against him. "They are playing a mischievous game."
But he evaded questions on how he got the tapes that convinced Mpshe to drop the case and on his loans from Shaik. "I paid back some of (the loan)."
Meanwhile, Manamela told the supporters rally that Zuma's opponents were "thugs, criminals, connivers and witches" who "must be exposed".
South African Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande said if "witches" were not stopped, "they will do it again in daylight".
Vavi said he would not forgive conspirators and that Mbeki must go to court.
"Number one, that big man, must answer in court... all those who divided and caused pain must pay," he said.
African National Congress President Jacob Zuma held no grudges against those people his backers believed had "conspired" against him, he told reporters on Tuesday, and he would not act in retribution against them.
However, at a rally in Durban after the charges against him had been withdrawn in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court, Zuma indirectly accused former president Thabo Mbeki of playing a role in the decision of former prosecutions chief Vusi Pikoli to charge him.
And Zuma's supporters called for the arrest of Mbeki, former National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) head Bulelani Ngcuka and former justice minister Penuell Maduna.
"Arrest Bulelani Ngcuka, arrest Thabo Mbeki and also arrest Penuell Maduna. Arrest them and give them the rights that have been denied to you," Buti Manamela of the Young Communist League said.
This was backed by Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, who said the "conspirators" should go to court.
"Bulelani Ngcuka and Mzi Khumalo must go to court. Even number one (Mbeki) must go to court," said Vavi, who added that the trade union federation had been vindicated in that Zuma had no case to face.
Ngcuka and businessman Khumalo were mentioned in Monday's briefing by acting NPA head Mokotedi Mpshe as key movers behind a plot to stop Zuma from becoming ANC president ahead of the party's national conference in Polokwane in December 2007.
However, Zuma chose the route of reconciliation and the healing of past pains, saying he would not wish for any South African to go through what he went through in the past eight years.
"Retribution will not take us anywhere. Now is the time for us to focus on improving people's lives. We want to put this episode behind us and focus on our priorities: education, health, rural development, the fight against crime and creating decent jobs despite the global economic meltdown," he said at a press conference after charges were formally dropped.
Zuma said he would hold no grudges against Ngcuka or anyone else, instead thanking people for defending his rights, which he said was tantamount to defending the constitution.
At the media briefing, Zuma said there was no evidence that Mbeki had interfered with his prosecution. However, at a rally with supporters later in the day, the ANC leader detailed the anatomy of his "political persecution", linking Mbeki's comment that "Zuma must have his day in court" with Pikoli's decision to charge him.
Addressing hundreds of supporters near the Durban harbour on Tuesday afternoon, Zuma agreed with Judge Chris Nicholson's ruling that inferred Mbeki's interference.
Referring to Mbeki's decision to fire him as the country's deputy president after the Schabir Shaik judgment, Zuma said: "(Pikoli) went to court soon after our president has just spoken in Parliament... and said that Zuma no matter what must have his day in court. I thought I didn't commit any crime. I was amazed and wondered how could I go to court when the person who said he has the case against me said the case was unwinnable?"
He added: "How is it that I must go to court when I was not charged? Who knew something that I didn't know? The Pikoli chap indeed immediately charged me."
Mbeki's spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga refused to comment, while Pikoli said: "I am tired of rejecting that thing."
In June 2005, Mbeki told Parliament: "Unambiguous as the (Shaik) judgment may be about an assumed unsavoury relationship, the deputy president has yet to have his day in court."
Zuma urged the crowd not to be vindictive against those who "abused and manipulated" state institutions to pursue his political "persecution".
At the media briefing earlier, he warned that the new administration, after the April 22 election, would not tolerate the abuse of state resources in pursuance of political agendas.
Zuma expressed concerns about the government's failure to respond to Parliament's views on how the Scorpions had been conducting their business.
Zuma rejected accusations that a "dark cloud" still hung over his head because he had not been acquitted.
"This is what people create in their minds and in the media. There is no cloud. There were charges against Zuma, but the State has decided not to proceed with its case. There were allegations made against me which I was prepared to deal with in court," he said.
He said he had always been ready to co-operate with the NPA and had presented himself in courts whenever needed.
"My quarrel with the NPA was on the methods and the motives of the investigation."
He subtly questioned the integrity of the judiciary, saying he only won cases in Durban courts, but lost "in Bloemfontein (the Supreme Court of Appeal) and Braamfontein (the Constitutional Court)".
Zuma lashed out at the opposition for trying to reopen the case against him. "They are playing a mischievous game."
But he evaded questions on how he got the tapes that convinced Mpshe to drop the case and on his loans from Shaik. "I paid back some of (the loan)."
Meanwhile, Manamela told the supporters rally that Zuma's opponents were "thugs, criminals, connivers and witches" who "must be exposed".
South African Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande said if "witches" were not stopped, "they will do it again in daylight".
Vavi said he would not forgive conspirators and that Mbeki must go to court.
"Number one, that big man, must answer in court... all those who divided and caused pain must pay," he said.
- This article was originally published on page 1 of The Cape Times on April 08, 2009
Pretoria
