The opposition Congress of the People(COPE) is expressing concern about a possibility that South Africa's NationalProsecuting Authority (NPA) might drop graft charges against the leader of theruling African National Congress party (ANC) today (Monday). The prosecutorsare expected to announce whether or not they will drop charges against ANC presidentJacob Zuma ahead of the April 22 general election. Zuma supporters maintain thecorruption charges against him are politically motivated to prevent him frombeing elected South Africa's next president. The ANC is widely expected to winthe election despite a stiff challenge anticipated from opposition parties.
COPE spokesman Philip Dexter tells reporter Peter Clottey that the ANC keepsdemonstrating that it has no regard for the country's constitution.
"Weare very concerned because we would like to see the rule of law upheld. Now, ifthe decision is to drop the charges as the rumors suggest would be, thencertainly, we would want to know the reason for that and we would want to seethe evidence that the NPA has applied its mind, because it does seem on theface of it there is some manipulation of this case," Dexter pointed out.
Hesaid the ANC leader's defense team should take its fair share of the blame fordelaying the graft case against him, which has been going on for at least sevenyears.
"Firstly,the reasons for the delay are not entirely to do with the state, and JacobZuma's lawyers have themselves been the cause of many of the delays. So to sayjustice delayed is justice denied is not applicable if the cause of the delayis the accused. You know, if the state were to be the cause of the delay, thenthere is the relevance. But I think what is important is that we cannot allow asituation where a single individual because of their political position istreated differently from other citizens. And on the face of it, that is what wehave here," he said.
Dextersaid COPE maintains that the ANC leader is being specially treated by theNational Prosecuting Authority in the graft charges against him.
"Certainly,I mean there are criminal cases going on everyday in South Africa. You don'thave a situation where people are allowed to delay the case and treat thecourts. They are political opponents and have access to the NationalProsecuting Authority so that you can cut a private deal with them. Certainly,this is not an ordinary situation," Dexter pointed out.
Hesaid the opposition COPE would ensure South Africans are told the truth if theNPA decides to drop the charges today against Jacob Zuma.
"Anumber of things, and firstly, we are going to obviously take legal advice tosee what avenues are open for us to ensure that none of this is done behindclosed doors and that all the information that is made available to the public.Secondly, we will be going to our members to ask them what they think are thenext steps. Thirdly, we will be appealing to the public suggesting that this isexactly why people should vote for COPE in the coming election because if theyvote for an organization that does not respect the rule of law, that underminesthe constitution of our country, then things would be very bleak for ourcountry," he said.
Dextersharply denied that dropping the charges against Zuma would significantlyimprove the chances of the ANC in the upcoming general election.
"Idon't know why you would make that assumption, but I think probably theopposition is true. So when we take a decision such as that dropping thecharges, I think that the South African public will see this for what it is andwould not vote for the ANC," Dexter noted.
Hesaid there are reasons to believe that news about possible NPA plans to dropcharges against Zuma were planted in the media by ANC agents to test thereaction from the general public.
"Whenthe story broke that the charges would be dropped, there was a significantreaction from the South African public, from the media, and so on, and otherpolitical parties. But I'm not sure how it would benefit anybody to test thewaters so to speak in that way," he said.
The prosecutors aredue to announce the fate of Zuma Monday after postponing the announcement lastweek. Zuma, however, is expected to become state president after South Africa'sApril 22 general election due to the overwhelming support his ruling ANC enjoysamong South Africans.