The Democratic Alliance has called the NPA’s decision to appeal the High Court ruling in the ongoing Spy Tapes saga a “farce” – promising that president Jacob Zuma will have his day in court.<\/p>\n
On Monday, National Prosecuting Authority head Shaun Abrahams announced that his department would appeal a High Court ruling that said the decisions to drop 783 corruption charges against the president was irrational.<\/p>\n
Abrahams’ reasoning for the appeal was that the ruling had far-reaching implications, and brought into question the ‘prosecutorial independence’ of the country, among others.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe it needs the decision of an appeal court,\u201d\u00a0he said.<\/p>\n
However, the Democratic Alliance – who brought the matter to court – said that this reasoning was a “farce”, and that Abrahams was preoccupied with protecting the president from prosecution at all cost – “no matter what the\u00a0implications\u00a0are for the Constitution, the taxpayer or due process”.<\/p>\n
The party said that Abrahams waited until the 11th hour (the deadline for the NPA’s decision was the day it was delivered) to tell the people of South Africa it would be delaying the process – and that taxpayers would be footing the bill.<\/p>\n
“Today\u2019s decision by the NPA\u00a0to apply for leave to appeal…is a blatant delaying tactic to shield Jacob Zuma from facing the 783 charges of corruption, fraud and racketeering levelled against him almost a decade ago.”<\/p>\n
“The matter is simple: President Zuma will eventually have his day in court, and justice will prevail, no matter how many tricks and delaying tactics are used by the state,” the party said following the announcement.<\/p>\n
“The DA will not let this matter rest. President Zuma will face justice.”<\/p>\n
NPA to appeal Zuma corruption charges ruling<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Zuma corruption charges: there are only two ways it can go<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Court ruling does not mean Zuma is guilty: ANC<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n