The arms deal corruption issue

[insulin]

I fail to understand the need for politicians in general but that is just me. However in the plan of plans JZ it seems have still a role to play. What role that might be is left up to time to reveal. The thing that worries me so, is how easy we say the word corruption... Has it lost its booming effect that someone is indeed evil at mind and by hand steeling much more then what we as a country can afford! Surly you must jest! But we do not... for this is no joke... If political power is based on integrity and moral soundness then surely justice has its place! Alas no... The system has failed one and all! It showed the world that justice has a price-tag. So in principle if justice is for sale then everything it stands for is also for sale and that includes you and I! So where is the line to be drawn?

[Dave A]

Oh the irony

Zuma ally and SACP boss Blade Nzimande, in a statement, accused the media of engaging in the diversionary tactic of "focusing on how information may have gotten into the hands of Zuma's lawyers... That's not the issue. The issue is that organs of state have been abused."
full story from IOL here

Comrade Blade - what if those tapes landed in the hands of Zuma's lawyers via abuse of organs of state?

[insulin]

It is kind of interesting this JZ story. Really it is actually kind of fictional because let us face it the aliens could have given JZ the evidence he needed for exoneration. Or little green men from mars but it still points to the same question and it always will. Who will benefit from JZ exoneration? It does not matter if JZ was guilty or innocent what matters is that someone took the time and made sure he is exonerated... Now somehow I don’t think this was done out of the goodness of that person’s heart. No politics is a dog eat dog world...

[Dave A]

In the interest of balanced reporting:

National Director of Public Prosecutions Moketedi Mpshe could have made no other decision than to drop charges against ANC president Jacob Zuma, former judge Willem Heath said on Thursday.

"If he proceeded [with the prosecution] the judge would have ruled that it was an illegality and it would have come to an end," Heath said.
full story from IOL here

I'll agree with one aspect though. The DA et al are crazy trying to fight this through the courts. In fact it sums up the DA's weakness - fighting for the fine points whilst missing the bigger picture. They need to be scoring their victories in the polls, not the courts.

Hearts, then minds bring the big numbers.

[Dave A]

And right on queue...

This, I think, supports my suggestion that chasing Zuma through the courts is bad strategy.

The survey said Zuma’s legal woes have not affected his party and that only the controversial behaviour of the ANC Youth League and its president, Julius Malema, have cost it support.

One-third of voters polled said they would vote for an opposition party because of Malema, while 10% said they would not vote at all because of him. More than 50% of those polled said Zuma’s legal troubles will “make them more likely to vote for the ANC�.
full story from M&G here

[Dave A]

Will the evidence ever be released?

President-elect Jacob Zuma has ignored acting prosecuting head Mokotedi Mpshe's request to respond to a court bid that would expose all the evidence that led to his release.

Zuma on Wednesday failed to reveal whether he would allow the release of his confidential representations to the National Prosecuting Authority - and the tape recordings that ultimately persuaded Mpshe to withdraw all charges against him - as part of the Democratic Alliance's legal challenge to Mpshe's decision.

Last week, on the day that the NPA was scheduled to hand over all the information used to make his decision on Zuma, Mpshe sent a letter to Zuma, asking him to indicate whether he would permit the release of his representations and tapes.

Officials at the State Attorney's Office on Wednesday told The Star that Zuma's lawyers had not responded to the NPA's request and said they were unable to say when they would do so.

"Our hands are tied we can't do anything until we hear from Mr Zuma's lawyers," a state attorney involved in the matter said.

As a result, all information about the Zuma-charges decision - including prosecutors' memos and statements about why the case against Zuma was solid and should stand - will not be released before he moves into the Union Buildings.
full story from IOL here

And what is the future for Director Mpshe?

The National Prosecuting Authority, recently mired in controversy, is set for a massive revamp.

Jacob Zuma and his supporters have accused former president Thabo Mbeki and successive national directors of public prosecutions of abusing the institution to wage a political vendetta against him.

Although acting NPA head Mokotedi Mpshe has recently been lauded by the Zuma camp for dropping criminal charges against the ANC leader, it is widely believed that someone closer to Zuma will be appointed to head the beleaguered institution.

The man frequently tipped to replace Mpshe is former Limpopo premier Ngoako Ramatlhodi, who has supported Zuma in his legal travails since he was first charged in 2005.

Ramatlhodi has, himself, been the subject of a Scorpions investigation, but the probe was dropped in November last year after he made representations to the NPA. Ramatlhodi was admitted as an advocate to the Pretoria Bar earlier this month.
full story from M&G here

[garthu]

Suppose it was to be expected. Fact is, n ow that JZ is in, i think we all have to move forward from there was conspiracy there, corruption and he was involved.

Being the president of the country we dont need him attracting attention as corrupt etc. He will now now surround himself with staunch supporters that would not paint him in this light. Sadly i would have to agree with the tactic anyway (as much as i detest it and think it is completely wrong and principle goes against the grain here). Bad press on our president will not do this country any favors in the future, be he massively corrupt or not. Politically attention needs to be turned away from this in order to regain some form of "respect" again, investment, development etc.
DA's continual onslaught on him which will continue will be purely for there own benefit - not going to help SA at this point i don't think. They should move on now and create positivity.

Not only are we at a point where we don't have a choice but to accept, but sadly we may need to accept it...

Now.... wheres that hard hat that was being passed around....

[insulin]

We do need to accept JZ as our new leader. We also need to accept the consequences that come with it. The truth is that we will not see a change in government for the next 35 years. So if anything let us hope we will see a change in attitude. The stigma will remain and it will endure. Every deal that JZ make will raise suspicion no matter how innocent the deal was. Every investor’s motive will be questioned and every mishap will be magnified and scrutinized. This is our foreseeable future... So let us hope...

[Yvonne]

There was an oriental village governed by an appointed official.

It was discovered that he had committed massive fraud and corruption and had built himself a wonderful home etc. with their taxes.

The population decided to call for an election, and nominated some opposition.

The original official was elected again, by a substantial margin.
A traveller passing through asked a few of the local population why they thought he remained so popular as they already had the evidence that he was corrupt.

The answer was, he should have all he needs by now, and any new official would need to have the same social standing in terms of material things, so he too would need to be corrupt!
At least the old official would know he was under survelliance, and they hoped he would not do it again!
(Better the devil you know!)

Thought provoking!

But sadly, I personally feel that the ANC has, like a small bully in a playground, through this election, confirmed their political freedom to abuse power.

And like the fable about the Emperior's clothes - will continue to "swear blind" that they
hold the highest moral ground.

Yvonne

[Dave A]

Welcome to the next round in the Arms Deal saga.

[Marq]

Seems there is an amalgamated Department of all these tainted departments. Its call the Department of Indifference. A Ministry of Bungled Tenders and Corrupt Spenders. The King is shapeshifting into a Jester as the court mocks and teases his efforts.

Long live Jacob the Jester and his court of many colours.

[Dave A]

I guess as long as everyone has already got their kickbacks, deciding to bomb this lemon should be an easy decision.

[Dave A]

Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi is upset about the arms-deal probe being scrapped, saying the flawed deal had made many rich on the sidelines, the Times reported on Tuesday.

"Cosatu is extremely worried that investigations into the arms deal will be closed down. There is no doubt in our minds that a lot of corruption happened in the procurement process," said Vavi at a lecture in Khayelitsha in honour of housing activist Irene Grootboom.
full story from M&G here

Wasn't COSATU party to the call for a political solution to the legal problems of Jacob Zuma?

What did they expect? Of course the investigation was going to get shut down.

[Butch Hannan]

The arms deal was the beginning of the entrenchment of the corruption of the present "regime". This set the bench mark for the massive bribery and corruption that is taking place daily. Until we get answers on the arms deal I cannot see the situation improving. Maybe we should have a "Truth and Reconciliation" type of commission on the arms deal where all the people involved can spill the beans on it. I believe that the magnitude of the corruption involved in the arms deal is so big that it could in fact bring the present government to its knees. Just wishful thinking.

[desA]

The arms deal was the beginning of the entrenchment of the corruption of the present "regime". This set the bench mark for the massive bribery and corruption that is taking place daily. Until we get answers on the arms deal I cannot see the situation improving. Maybe we should have a "Truth and Reconciliation" type of commission on the arms deal where all the people involved can spill the beans on it. I believe that the magnitude of the corruption involved in the arms deal is so big that it could in fact bring the present government to its knees. Just wishful thinking.

Variation on the SA theme:
I believe that the magnitude of the corruption involved in the arms deal & many, if not most, subsequent deals is so big that it should in fact bring any normally-appointed, democratic government to its knees.