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SA court rejects Zuma graft case SA court rejects Zuma graft case
(about 1 hour later)
A South African court has ruled that a corruption case against ruling party leader Jacob Zuma cannot go ahead.A South African court has ruled that a corruption case against ruling party leader Jacob Zuma cannot go ahead.
He was facing charges of corruption, fraud and money laundering relating to a multi-billion dollar 1999 arms deal.He was facing charges of corruption, fraud and money laundering relating to a multi-billion dollar 1999 arms deal.
A judge in Pietermaritzburg said there was reason to believe the decision to charge him was politically motivated.A judge in Pietermaritzburg said there was reason to believe the decision to charge him was politically motivated.
His words were drowned out by cheers of supporters outside the court. The decision effectively clears the path for Mr Zuma to become president.His words were drowned out by cheers of supporters outside the court. The decision effectively clears the path for Mr Zuma to become president.
The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Pietermaritzburg said there are scenes of celebration outside the court, where hundreds of people had gathered since Thursday evening for an all-night vigil. The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Pietermaritzburg said there were scenes of celebration outside the court, where hundreds of people had gathered since Thursday evening for an all-night vigil.
We came here to celebrate and we are going to celebrate Floyd ShimvambuANC Youth League href="/1/hi/world/africa/7153378.stm">Timeline: Zuma's legal problems class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/4615019.stm">Zuma: Comeback kid We came here to celebrate and we are going to celebrate Floyd ShimvambuANC Youth League Zuma: Comeback kid
They had braved the very cold wintry and drizzly night to show their support, singing and chanting in Zulu "vuli ndlela", which loosely translated, means open the door.They had braved the very cold wintry and drizzly night to show their support, singing and chanting in Zulu "vuli ndlela", which loosely translated, means open the door.
Their message was that the Supreme Court should leave the way open for Mr Zuma to become president next year by dropping the case. Their message was that the Supreme Court should leave the way open for the African National Congress (ANC) leader to become president next year by dropping the case.
JubilantJubilant
Judge Chris Nicholson said the decision to prosecute without consulting Mr Zuma, 66, had been invalid and ordered the charges to be set aside.Judge Chris Nicholson said the decision to prosecute without consulting Mr Zuma, 66, had been invalid and ordered the charges to be set aside.
"I must repeat that this application has nothing to do with the guilt or otherwise of the applicant. It deals only with the procedural point relating to his [Zuma] right to making representations before the respondent [the prosecution] makes a decision on whether to charge him," AFP news agency quotes him as saying."I must repeat that this application has nothing to do with the guilt or otherwise of the applicant. It deals only with the procedural point relating to his [Zuma] right to making representations before the respondent [the prosecution] makes a decision on whether to charge him," AFP news agency quotes him as saying.
Mr Zuma has mass grass-roots support in the ruling ANCMr Zuma has mass grass-roots support in the ruling ANC
A jubilant Mr Zuma embraced his lawyer after the ruling, AP news agency reports.A jubilant Mr Zuma embraced his lawyer after the ruling, AP news agency reports.
His lawyers are also applying for a permanent stay of prosecution in a separate case. Our correspondent says Mr Zuma's lawyers are due back in court before the end of the year in a separate case to try and get a permanent stay of prosecution.
Our correspondent says there is no doubting Mr Zuma's popularity and huge crowds are waiting for him to address them. Under South African law, a president does not have immunity from prosecution.
After leaving court, Mr Zuma addressed the crowds, and led them in his trademark anti-apartheid guerrilla song, "Umshini wami" (Bring Me My Machine-Gun).
"We came here to celebrate and we are going to celebrate. This [the judgement] exposed Thabo Mbeki and everybody who did this to him," South Africa's Mail and Guardian paper quotes ANC Youth League spokesman Floyd Shimvambu as saying."We came here to celebrate and we are going to celebrate. This [the judgement] exposed Thabo Mbeki and everybody who did this to him," South Africa's Mail and Guardian paper quotes ANC Youth League spokesman Floyd Shimvambu as saying.
TensionTension
The charges against the African National Congress (ANC) leader related to South Africa's largest post-apartheid arms deal, involving contracts totalling 30bn rand ($3.7bn; £2bn) to modernise its national defence force. The charges against Mr Zuma related to South Africa's largest post-apartheid arms deal, involving contracts totalling 30bn rand ($3.7bn; £2bn) to modernise its national defence force.
ZUMA TIMELINE June 2005: Sacked as deputy president October 2005: Charged with corruption 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 proceed2009: Elections due Timeline: Zuma's legal problems
The deal involved companies from Germany, Italy, Sweden, Britain, France and South Africa.The deal involved companies from Germany, Italy, Sweden, Britain, France and South Africa.
Mr Zuma was sacked as South Africa's deputy president in 2005, when his financial adviser was found guilty of soliciting a bribe on behalf of Mr Zuma and jailed for 15 years in connection with the deal.Mr Zuma was sacked as South Africa's deputy president in 2005, when his financial adviser was found guilty of soliciting a bribe on behalf of Mr Zuma and jailed for 15 years in connection with the deal.
He then went on trial, but the case collapsed in 2006 when the prosecution said it was not ready to proceed.He then went on trial, but the case collapsed in 2006 when the prosecution said it was not ready to proceed.
He was charged again last December shortly after winning a bitter campaign against President Thabo Mbeki to become ANC leader in what his allies say was a political conspiracy to prevent him becoming president.He was charged again last December shortly after winning a bitter campaign against President Thabo Mbeki to become ANC leader in what his allies say was a political conspiracy to prevent him becoming president.
Elections are due to be held in April or May 2009.Elections are due to be held in April or May 2009.
Tension was raised this week, following the publication of a cartoon showing Mr Zuma about to rape a figure labelled "Lady Justice" - a reference to the criticism of judges by Mr Zuma's supporters.Tension was raised this week, following the publication of a cartoon showing Mr Zuma about to rape a figure labelled "Lady Justice" - a reference to the criticism of judges by Mr Zuma's supporters.
"We will eliminate any forces that come our way," ANC Youth League president Julius Malema said on Wednesday, according to local media."We will eliminate any forces that come our way," ANC Youth League president Julius Malema said on Wednesday, according to local media.
In April 2006, Mr Zuma was acquitted of rape in a separate case, though he was widely criticised for comments about sex and HIV/Aids.In April 2006, Mr Zuma was acquitted of rape in a separate case, though he was widely criticised for comments about sex and HIV/Aids.


Are you in South Africa? What is your reaction to the court verdict? Send your comment using the form below:Are you in South Africa? What is your reaction to the court verdict? Send your comment using the form below:
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