SA fury over Zuma ruling appeal

SA fury over Zuma ruling appeal Jacob Zuma Mr Zuma has always denied any wrong-doing South African state prosecutors say they will appeal against last week's ruling, dismissing corruption charges against ruling party leader Jacob Zuma. His supporters have reacted with fury and outrage. The ANC said the move was "cynical", while trade unions said prosecutors were trying to "save face". They say the charges are political - a claim backed up by the judge last week. As ANC leader, Mr Zuma is the strong favourite to become South Africa's president after elections next year. He won a bitter election against President Mbeki to become African National Congress leader in December last year. Our view is that it is a question of personal egos totally elevated above national interests and public interests Gwede Mantashe ANC Secretary General Supporters of Mr Zuma accuse the president's allies of trying to prevent the ANC leader succeeding him. Following the ruling by judge Chris Nicholson last week, President Mbeki has been put under pressure to step down. The South African Community Party, which backs Mr Zuma, said that the appeal by the National Prosecuting Authority was "further proof that there is a political force driving the NPA to make Comrade Zuma's ascendancy to the [presidency] as difficult and unpleasant as possible". The umbrella trade union federation Cosatu also condemned the NPA appeal. It said prosecutors were trying to "save the faces of themselves and government leaders who quite correctly came in for serious criticism from the judge for political interference in legal processes," reports the AP news agency. 'Miscarriage of justice' The 16 charges of corruption, racketeering and money-laundering were dismissed by a judge on a legal technicality. The judge said the NPA was free to resubmit them. ZUMA TIMELINE June 2005: Sacked as deputy president October 2005: Charged with corruption December 2005: Charged with rape April 2006: Acquitted of rape charges September 2006: Corruption case collapses December 2007: Elected ANC president; re-charged with corruption shortly afterwards September 2008: Judge rules corruption case cannot proceed 2009: Elections due Timeline: Zuma's legal problems Zuma: Comeback kid Mr Zuma's corruption trial was halted two years ago, five months after he had been acquitted of rape. The corruption charges were then brought back just a few days after Mr Zuma was elected ANC leader. ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe said the prosecuting authority should put Mr Zuma's case behind it. "If they re-open that case, they would have lost a very important opportunity that is there for the country and our view is that it is a question of personal egos totally elevated above national interests and public interests," he told SAfm radio. On Tuesday, opposition leader Helen Zille said her party might launch a private prosecution against Mr Zuma, if the NPA failed to press charges for a third time. The charges relate to a multi-million dollar 1999 arms deal. "It would be a miscarriage of justice if Zuma was to get off the hook due to a legal technicality," Ms Zille said.