SACP,+YCL+and+COSATU+on+judgment+against+Scorpions+re+Zuma



=SACP Statement on the outcome of the Durban High Court on documents held by the Scorpions belonging to Cde Jacob Zuma=

Wednesday, 15 February 2006
The South African Communist Party (SACP) welcomes the decision by the Durban High Court for the return of documents which were confiscated by the Scorpions during the raids at Cde Jacob Zuma’s homes and those of his lawyer Michael Hulley on 18 August 2005.

The SACP believes that this ruling vindicates our concerns and those of many other South Africans, including the legal fraternity, about the manner in which these raids were conducted, including the raiding of the offices of the lawyers of Cde Zuma.

The SACP had, at the time of the raids, also expressed concerns about the wisdom and the intention of conducting raids after Cde Zuma had already been charged.

Whilst noting that the Scorpions and the National Prosecuting Authority intend appealing this judgement, we are however deeply disturbed about the meaning and possible implications of this judgement. The successive court judgements against the Scorpions are a serious blight on the behaviour of this institution. It does not build the confidence of our people for an institution which is supposed to be an upholder of the law, to be successively found to have acted unlawfully. Our major concern is that this behaviour and judgements have the danger of undermining the confidence of our people in these institutions.

In addition such unlawful behaviour can now be effectively interpreted as posing a threat to the constitutional and individual rights of all South Africans and not just those of Cde Zuma.

In addition such judgements reinforce the widely held perception that Cde Zuma cannot after all this get a fair trial, and that his rights have been seriously prejudiced.

The SACP had also earlier raised the urgency of effective oversight over the Scorpions as provided for in the National Prosecuting Authority Act, such that they are accountable and their work is subject to scrutiny by appropriate structures.

We therefore call upon government to move with speed in establishing the necessary oversight mechanisms over the Scorpions, mechanisms whose implementation is already and unacceptably long overdue. We also reiterate the call we have made before for an urgent follow up and action by parliament and other relevant government institutions as per the recommendations of the Public Protector on the question of the treatment of Cde Zuma, and those of the Hefer Commission.


 * Issued by: SACP**

Tel: 011 339 3621/2 Fax: 011 339 3244/6880 Cell: 082 226 1802 Web portal: [|www.sacp.org.za]**
 * CONTACT: Francis Maleka Spokesperson SACP



=YCL welcomes Judgment on Scorpions raid on Zuma and Lawyer Property=

The Young Communist League welcomes the judgement passed today in favour of Jacob Zuma (deputy president of the ANC) and Michael Hulley (his attorney) on the raids conducted by the Scorpions on the 18th August 2005.

We have spoken openly against the raids when they were conducted, and appreciate the fact that this vindicates us. We still maintain that the raids should not have been done in that manner, and that this was a desperate move on the part of the Scorpions to find Zuma guilty through both means, fair and foul.

We are aware that the State will appeal, but we believe that the judgement is a giant leap towards exposing the dirty tactics applied by the National Prosecutions Authority and its wing, the Scorpions, towards Jacob Zuma.

We have always doubted the prospect of a free and fair trial for the Deputy President of the ANC, and today’s judgement echoes our sentiment. We believe more than ever before that the Scorpions have aborted justice since the Zuma trial commenced, and as time goes on, we will continue to be proved right.

The judgement also begs the question whether the Scorpions and the Prosecution’s Authority should continue to exist in the same manner. Our view has always been that it is a law unto itself, without any forum where it accounts. This must change. Those in the Authority who were responsible for this should be brought to book.

On the recusal of Ngoepe
There are those who have said that Judge Ngoepe should not have recused himself from the rape trial of Jacob Zuma, and that these are delaying tactics on the part of the Deputy President, we hope that this sends a message to them that nobody in the judiciary is without reproach, including Ngoepe.

We respect the right of the complainant to have a speedy trial, but this should not be at the expense of the right of the accused to a free and fair trial.

We will continue to support the ANC Deputy President in these trying times, and see this as a victory to justice for all.


 * Issued by the Young Communist League National Office**
 * Contact: 082 567 3557**



=Durban court ruling=

The Congress of South African Trade Unions welcomes today’s ruling by the Durban High Court that the Scorpions must return certain documents seized from former deputy president Jacob Zuma and his lawyer during raids on Zuma's homes in Johannesburg and his KwaZulu-Natal homestead, and the Durban office of his lawyer Michael Hulley in August 2005.

The courts ruling totally vindicates the statement made by COSATU’s Central Committee, which was meeting at the time of the raids, that the Scorpions’ actions were both unlawful and immoral. We demand that the State accepts the ruling and withdraws their appeal against it.

Today’s decision reinforces COSATU’s view that the prosecution of Jacob Zuma on corruption charges has been and remains a politically motivated conspiracy against him, and the federation reiterates the Central Committee’s demand that all the corruption charges should now be dropped.


 * Patrick Craven (Editor, Shopsteward Journal)**
 * Congress of South African Trade Unions**
 * 1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets**
 * Braamfontein, 2017**


 * P.O.Box 1019**
 * Johannesburg, 2000**
 * South Africa**


 * Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24**
 * Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940**
 * E-Mail: patrick@cosatu.org.za**

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