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South Africa's Zuma under fire from DA in court and parliament | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
South Africa's parliament is debating a no-confidence motion in President Jacob Zuma, while a court is hearing a case to reinstate 738 corruption charges against him. | |
His office said he would oppose the court case, while the governing party vowed to defeat the motion. | |
The opposition is behind both actions, accusing him of taking a bribe. | |
Mr Zuma has denied the allegation, linked to a multi-billion dollar arms deal negotiated over a decade ago. | |
He was first charged in 2005, and fired as deputy president by then-President Thabo Mbeki. | |
After much legal and political wrangling the case was dropped in April 2009, and Mr Zuma went on to become president a month later. | |
At the time, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said phone-tap evidence, dubbed in the local media as "spy tapes", suggested political interference in the investigation, and it was "unconscionable" to press ahead with the case. | At the time, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said phone-tap evidence, dubbed in the local media as "spy tapes", suggested political interference in the investigation, and it was "unconscionable" to press ahead with the case. |
The main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party is challenging the decision in the High Court after a lengthy battle to obtain the "spy tapes". | |
It said in court papers that the NPA's decision was unconstitutional and irrational. | It said in court papers that the NPA's decision was unconstitutional and irrational. |
Mr Zuma's office said, in a statement, that the court action was an "abuse of process by a political party in order to advance a political agenda". | |
Mr Zuma was confident that the NPA's decision would "withstand any scrutiny", the statement added. | |
'Spiralling downward' | |
During a noisy parliamentary session, DA leader Mmusi Maimane, described Mr Zuma as a sell-out whose main aim was self-enrichment. | |
South Africa was "spiralling downward, and doing so at an alarmingly fast rate" under his presidency, the party added in a statement. | |
The governing African National Congress (ANC) party, which commands an overwhelming majority, said it would defeat the motion. | |
Despite the "frivolous antics" of the DA, its confidence in Mr Zuma remained unshaken, the party said in a statement. | |
Mr Zuma, a former ANC intelligence chief, has been dogged by controversy throughout him time in government. | |
Last month, he conceded in court that he needed to pay the government for money used to upgrade his private home, including the building of a swimming pool, amphitheatre, chicken run and cattle enclosure. | Last month, he conceded in court that he needed to pay the government for money used to upgrade his private home, including the building of a swimming pool, amphitheatre, chicken run and cattle enclosure. |
That case was brought by the DA and left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party after Mr Zuma failed to pay the money, despite a ruling against him by an independent anti-corruption body in 2014. | That case was brought by the DA and left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party after Mr Zuma failed to pay the money, despite a ruling against him by an independent anti-corruption body in 2014. |
In December, South Africa's currency went into a tail spin after having three finance ministers in a week. | In December, South Africa's currency went into a tail spin after having three finance ministers in a week. |
In 2005, Mr Zuma's former financial adviser Schabir Shaik was convicted of corruption. |