afrol News, 20 December - It is now official that the newly elected leader of South Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC), Jacob Zuma, will face trial for corruption charges. The head of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Mokotedi Mpshe, said there is enough evidence for Zuma to be charged for corruption.

The NPA chief said a final decision on when he will face charges on the controversial arms deal is obvious.

Zuma’s financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, was jailed for 15 after he was found guilty of soliciting bribes on behalf of the new ANC chief.

Jacob Zuma, who had mustered the support of most ANC organs - including the youth and women’s leagues - defeated President Thabo Mbeki to become the party’s leader. The win has boost his chances of succeeding Mbeki in 2009, but a conviction would jeopardise Zuma’s ascension to power.

"The investigation is complete. All that we are doing now is to tie the loose ends," Mpshe told ‘702 Talk Radio’ in South Africa.

"The investigation, with the evidence we have now, points to a case that can be taken to court.”

Zuma was earlier acquitted on rape charges and the government’s earlier attempts to prosecute him on corruption could not be materialised for lack of evidence.

Since then, investigations have been mounted on Zuma and things came to a climax last month when he lost a court bid to declare a series of search warrants against him illegal.

The ANC conference voted for the disbandment of the Scorpions, unit most Zuma supporters believed was bent on conspiring to bring the new leader down. However, the Scorpions remain in force until parliament disbands it.

Zuma, who had denied the charges, has vowed to resign upon conviction by the court. Zuma’s alleged implication in the arms deal led to his sacking as the Deputy President in 2005.

Analysts said the election of Zuma as the head of the ANC could spell a big rift between the government and the party, with speculation riving that Mbeki was going to resign ahead of his term limit in 2009 to calm down the situation.

But the head of Policy Unit at the President‘s Office, Joel Netshitenzhe, rubbished the claims. "He is not considering resigning. I have this on authority," Netshitenzhe told reporters.

The Mbeki-Zuma contest has seen as the worst split throughout the 96-year history of the ANC that ascended to power barely 13 years ago. This is the first in 55 years that the position of ANC leader has been contested.

Mbeki's humiliating defeat was believed to be the result of his distant and authoritarian style of leadership, which had angered many party supporters.

Many South Africans, including the ANC's former legendary leader, Nelson Mandela, expressed sadness about the nature of the differences currently in an organisation that ended the white minority rule in 1994 as well as created a new dawn of South Africans.

Contrary to the comments by former Archbishop of Cape Town, Desmond Tutu, that most South Africans would be ashamed to have Zuma as their leader, the Archbishop of the Foundation of Apostles Congregational Church, Goodman Khanyase, described Zuma as a “patient and caring leader” whose leadership would bring a lot of gains for the country and its people.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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