Lungani Zungu
Jacob Zuma is now dragging former presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki into the arms deal trial.
Zuma’s lawyers have tried to place Mandela, who was president when the arms deal negotiations began in 1997, and his deputy Mbeki, at the centre of the deal. Zuma claims that it was the ANC, Mandela and Mbeki who benefitted, and not him.
In a series of leaked letters, Zuma’s lawyers, B.M Thusini Inc, wrote to the ANC, and the Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki foundations and asked them for financial records and other documents relating to the arms deal between 1997 and 2000.
The lawyers said this would show that Zuma did not benefit from the multi-billion rand arms deal.
Zuma was MEC for Economic Development in KZN at the time, they said.
What they did not say, however, is that Zuma also held the influential position of national ANC chairperson during this period.
In the letter addressed to Mandela’s foundation, Zuma said it is not his intention to embroil the name of the globally revered late icon into the arms deal saga.
However, he said it has become unavoidable as he fights to stay out of jail.
Zuma faces charges emanating from the alleged bribes he pocketed from French arms company Thales, formerly Thompson CFS, in return for protection from future prosecution.
He pleaded not guilty.
Zuma’s ally-turned-enemy, controversial businessman Schabir Shaik, was found guilty of corruption stemming from the arms deal.
Despite this, Zuma said Shaik’s arrest did not mean that he was guilty of any wrongdoing.
It’s unclear whether he will be able to go to court on 9 September as he recently underwent surgery at a military hospital in KZN and his foundation says he is due more treatment.
Earlier this month, his JG Zuma Foundation threatened that Zuma would expose the foundations and prominent organisations which received kickbacks from arms companies involved in the arms deal.
Responding to Zuma’s lawyers, the ANC said all documents before 2005 were damaged after the building they were stored in was flooded.
The party also said it had no audited financial statements for the period 1997 to 2000.
Image source: @charlesapple
