ZUMA GIVEN UNTIL END-NOVEMBER TO MAKE SUBMISSIONS TO PROSECUTORS ON GRAFT CHARGES

PRETORIA, Oct 21 (NNN-SABC) — The National Director of Public Prosecutions, Shaun Abrahams, has given South African President Jacob Zuma until Nov 30 to make fresh representations on why corruption charges against him should not be reinstated.

The 783 charges of corruption against Zuma were dropped in 2009 by the then head of the National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa (NPA), Mokotedi Mpshe, but the Supreme Court of Appeal last week upheld a High Court ruling to reinstate the charges.

The NPA says any further representations by Zuma should relate to issues not previously considered by authorities. NPA spokesperson Luvuyo Mfaku explained Friday: “The National Director of Public Prosecutions, after having considered the judgment of the Supreme Court of Appeals and after matched the Head of the Hawks in the investigating officer in order to establish the availability of witnesses, the investigating officer indicated that he required 30 days to establish the availability of witnesses.

“You must further recall that the NPA had receive a letter from the lawyers representing the president before the judgement was delivered indicating that they would want to be given an opportunity to make representations before the matter is enrolled,” added Mfaku.

The ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeals amplified calls for Zuma to step down before his term as president ends in 2019. A spokesman for Zuma was not immediately available for comment.

Zuma has faced a series of corruption allegations, most recently over leaked emails which suggest his friends, the influential Gupta business family, may have used their influence to secure State contracts for their companies. Zuma and the Guptas deny any wrongdoing.

Following last Friday’s ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeals, the NPA was required to make a decision on the charges, which relate to a 30-billion-Rand (about 2.2 billion US dollars) government arms deal arranged in the 1990s.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

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