2005-10-12,+State+given+four+weeks+to+conclude+Zuma+probe


 * Business Day, Johannesburg, 11 October**

= **State given four weeks to conclude Zuma probe** =

FORMER deputy president Jacob Zuma told a crowd of more than 1000 supporters outside Durban Magistrate’s Court that he would reveal the reasons for his implication in corruption after his court battle. The state and prosecution have agreed that the case adjourn until November 12 for further investigation, an indictment to be served and to set a trial date. Thanking them for their support, Zuma and said he was humbled by their presence at his second appearance on two charges of corruption this morning. Many had participated in an all-night vigil in his support. Zuma told them that he had never imagined that after 10 years of democracy he would face charges for crimes he had never committed. The charges against Zuma were brought after the conviction of his friend and former financial adviser Schabir Shaik, who was sentenced to 15 years in jail for fraud and corruption - linked to Zuma. He faces two charges of contravening the Corruption Act, so far. "(The Congress of SA Trade Unions) doesn’t regret for one moment having taken the stance it did throughout the saga," its secretary-general Zwelinzima Vavi told the crowd. Had it not done so, Zuma would have been "thrown to the lions like many others before him". Also speaking outside the court, the SA Communist Party’s Blade Nzimande called on the media to report on the case in a "fair and balanced way" and not to promote factionalism. The crowd, which chanted "Zuma my president, my president," at the start of proceedings, later joined Zuma in song before dispersing. Vavi said supporters would be back outside the Durban Magistrate’s Court on the eve of November 12 for Zuma’s next appearance. High-profile people who attended proceedings on Tuesday included KwaZulu-Natal premier S’bu Ndebele, African National Congress head of publicity Smuts Ngonyama, ANC secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe, former ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni, Mo Shaik and KwaZulu-Natal economic affairs MEC Zweli Mkhize.
 * Sapa**

From: http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A100778