afrol News, 10 September - President of ruling South African, ANC party, Jacob Zuma, will re-appear in Pietermaritzburg High Court on Friday, where court will decide whether or not to drop corruption charges against him.

Mr Zuma's legal team has requested court to declare his pending prosecution illegal, arguing that authorities did not follow constitutional rules when recharging him in long-running investigation.

Charismatic leader is expected to become South Africa's president in next year's general elections after ousting president Thabo Mbeki, who fired him as deputy president in 2005.

Mr Zuma faces 16 charges ranging from money laundering to racketeering. But even if court turns down his lawyer's request to dismiss the charges, case could still face further delays.

If court does not rule their way, his legal team can still appeal and also apply for a permanent stay of prosecution.

Analysts say that there is little chance that case will reach trial before next year's elections.

Law professor Mike Cowling, of University of KwaZulu-Natal, said a ruling on a permanent stay would not be likely before April, when South Africa's elections have traditionally taken place. A separate appeal could take up to two years, he added.

"At moment, Zuma's team is creating a perception that what they want to do is delay proceedings," Mr Cowling said.

He rejected argument of ANC leader's supporters that he was victim of a conspiracy and that prosecution had infringed his constitutional rights.

"You can't say that he's been wrongly prosecuted. You might say it's selective and there are certain things that smell of conspiracy but bottom line is that he's being prosecuted on basis of very solid facts," he explained.

This did not mean Mr Zuma was guilty, he added: only that he did have a legal case to answer.

Under current law, politician would not be able to serve as president if sentenced to a jail term of more than 12 months.

To stay in power under such circumstances would require a constitutional reform, law expert David Unterhalter told media.

A more likely scenario was a possible plea bargain with the prosecution before being sentenced if the trial went ahead, Mr Unterhalter said.

This would mean that prosecution would have to agree to Mr Zuma pleading to a lesser offence. There is no sign of that happening at this stage.

But if trial were to go ahead and if Mr Zuma became president, there would be pressure on prosecution to consider a plea bargain if trial went ahead, Mr Unterhalter added.

With hefty muscle of SA's trade unions and youth league behind him, Mr Zuma took power of ANC last December.

He was charged again on corruption charges days after toppling Mr Mbeki who was seeking a third term as party leader.

He was sacked after his former financial advisor was handed a 15-year prison sentence for paying him bribes.

Mr Zuma has been investigated since 2001 for corruption, main charge that he received bribes for protecting French arms company Thint in an investigation into a controversial arms deal.

Thousands of his are expected to demonstrate Friday, outside the Pietermaritzburg high court.

Meanwhile, police plan to beef up security in and around court on Friday.

"Strict measures have been put in place to ensure that general public, business community and supporters are protected prior, during and after court case," said Superintendent Henry Budhram of South African Police Services.

He said police and other role-players had met to discuss security and had vowed to ensure that normal activities "proceed unhindered" outside the court.

Supt Budhram said at least Zuma 5 000 supporters are expected to gather outside court on Thursday night, before Judge Chris Nicholson's ruling on whether decision to charge him was lawful.

ANC's provincial secretary general Senzo Mchunu urged supporters to "continue displaying good behaviour that they have shown in all past appearances irrespective of outcome of judgment handed down on Friday".

By staff writer

© afrol News

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