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By Sifiso Mahlangu 
1h ago
Former President Jacob Zuma has finally spoken about his long-awaited lawsuit over the Arms Agreement.
Zuma spoke exclusively to Independent Media about the trial, which will resume on May 6, but has now been postponed until June 23. Experts say this measure has little to do with the Covid-19 pandemic, but the “last minute of the courts to eliminate it.” KPMG’s with the witness list. “
Zuma told Independent Media that he is ready to show South Africans the real thieves.
“I always said I wanted to spend the day in court. It is time for South Africans to hear the truth. It is time. My silence has always been to maintain unity, but now it is time,” said Zuma.
On Wednesday, the Jacob Zuma Foundation confirmed to Independent Media that the Constitutional Court had approved Zuma’s withdrawal from his attempt to permanently suspend prosecution.
According to the Zuma foundation, Zuma had not wanted a suspension of the prosecution, despite the fact that his previous lawyer pressed for one.
“The former president wants to voice his part. The court should allow him to do that. This case has been pending for the past 20 years. There should be no such delaying tactics against him. This case can no longer be politicized, as it has been since the beginning. What we want is a fair and equitable process, “said the foundation.
The withdrawal of the offer for a permanent stay of prosecution came after Zuma eliminated his longtime lawyer Daniel Mantsha and replaced him with attorneys Eric Mabuza, a lawyer closely associated with the lawyer and EFF member Dali Mpofu.
According to experts, Zuma’s family was aggrieved, feeling that Mantsha had “dropped the ball.” The sources also revealed that the National Fiscal Authority had “quietly” instituted an investigation into the accounting firm KPMG. KPMG is believed to have taken the witness position against Zuma, but he may face the worst part of Mabuza in court since serious damage to the company’s reputation in recent years.
In a letter Independent Media owns, Mabuza’s lawyers wrote to the court to ask for clarity on why the state has launched an investigation into KPMG on the eve of the trial.
The letter says:
“1. Our client was naturally surprised to learn that some 15 years later, and even more so on the eve of the trial, the State is still gathering or gathering evidence to be used in the trial. This literally means that despite What was previously communicated to our client and the public, the State is nowhere near ready for trial.
2. The fact that we have not been given all the evidence to be used in the trial is seriously detrimental to our client, as our client is unable to finalize his request for further details, much less begin to prepare for the trial. From our respectful point of view, this will have an important bearing on pre-trial activities that may need to end before the next court appearance on June 23, 2020. In this regard, our client reserves his rights.
3. Be that as it may, now that the State has formally admitted in the registry that it is compiling new forensic reports to be used in the trial, therefore we request the State to explain and / or provide the following information:
– Will the new forensic reports have any relation or relevance in the case against our client? If so,
– Why we were not formally notified that the State is compiling new forensic reports? A complete and adequate explanation is required.
– Does the State intend to abandon or withdraw or complement the KPMG Forensic Investigation Report of September 2, 2006?
– If so, why and what are the reasons for doing so? We need a complete and adequate explanation in this regard.
– We need a copy of the request for information presented by Thales that allegedly incited the State to consider preparing new forensic reports, including any response to them, if applicable. “
Mabuza’s letter to the court has thrown a key in the works, arguing that the court is proving to be detrimental to Zuma.
While Zuma’s new lawyer is pushing to spend the day in court, his relationship with Mantsha is said to have deteriorated after the Pietermaritzburg High Court issued an arrest warrant for Zuma after missing a court appearance. .
Zuma missed his appearance in court in January when he received medical treatment in Cuba for a recurring chest condition. The gap between Zuma and Mantsha is also said to have been exaggerated by comments made by EFF leader Julius Malema when he said that “it was not the responsibility of Zuma’s lawyers to defend the sick note, but it was the responsibility of his doctors.”
The Zuma foundation declined to respond if some of the witnesses had also withdrawn their statements. “We cannot speak for anyone. That is not our place. If other witnesses have suddenly withdrawn their statement, the court must be very concerned about that.”
KPMG has not responded to questions.
Political Bureau
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