NPA files papers
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) files its papers in the spy tapes case, after missing the previous deadline. In response to the DA’s questioning of the NPA’s decision to withdraw criminal charges against Zuma after his election as ANC leader, the NPA papers argue that Zuma was charged with corruption to stop then President Thabo Mbeki from being recalled.
Wins access to ‘spy tapes’
Zille wins a five-year legal battle to obtain the so called “spy tapes”. The phone-taps are the basis of a 2009 decision by prosecutors to drop the charges against Zuma, saying there was political involvement in decision to press charges, just before the election in which he became President. Zille, who asked for the tapes so that the decision can be re-assessed, walks out of the High Court in Pretoria with a “tamper evident security bag” containing transcripts of recordings and a memory stick. Zille:
South Africa’s democracy depends on this case. No-one is above the law.
Zuma denies the charges, insisting he is the victim of a “political conspiracy” hatched by his opponents in the governing ANC to prevent him from becoming president.
Rape acquittal
Zuma is acquitted of raping a 31-year-old family friend on 2 November 2005. In a four-hour ruling broadcast live on radio and television, the judge says the state had not proven the case beyond reasonable doubt. He also refers to evidence given by the defence, suggesting that the complainant has a history of making false accusations of rape.
The complainant was inclined to accuse men of raping her or attempting to rape her
Zuma admitted having had sex with the woman, but insisted it was consensual. The judge says Zuma would not have risked forcing himself on the woman when his own daughter was in the house and police were on guard outside, who would have heard the accused if she had cried out. After the judgement, Zuma addresses a crowd in nearby Beyers Naude Square:
A person who is charged remains innocent until proven otherwise – this is one of the golden rules of our constitution but the press broke this rule. Today the bad dreams have evaporated.
Advisor found guilty
Shaik, a financial adviser to Zuma is found guilty on two accounts of corruption and one of fraud. He remains free on bail. The judge compares corruption to a cancer subverting democracy and human rights and rejects the defence lawyer’s plea for clemency because Shaik had fought apartheid.
His corporate empire’s progress and prosperity was plainly linked to the possibility that Jacob Zuma would finally ascend to the highest political office…Far from carrying out the object of [South Africa’s liberation] struggle, this whole saga represents a subversion of it…It was a typical example of a privileged treatment to a selected political figure in a situation redolent with lack of transparency and subversive of administrative fairness and integrity. And that is what the law seeks to punish.
10 year sentence for conspiracy
Zuma is convicted of conspiracy to overthrow the South African government and sentenced to ten year’s imprisonment, which he serves on Robben Island with Nelson Mandela and other notable ANC leaders. Whilst imprisoned, Zuma serves as a referee for prisoners’ association football games.
Arrested
Zuma is arrested with 45 other members of Spear of the nation (Umkhonto we Sizwe) in Zeerus, North West Province, South Africa.