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| South Africa prosecutor to challenge Jacob Zuma corruption ruling | South Africa prosecutor to challenge Jacob Zuma corruption ruling |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| South Africa's prosecution says it will appeal against a court ruling that it should reconsider corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma. | South Africa's prosecution says it will appeal against a court ruling that it should reconsider corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma. |
| Originally, the 783 charges were dropped weeks before the 2009 election which led to him becoming president. | |
| But last month, a high court judge described that decision as "irrational". | But last month, a high court judge described that decision as "irrational". |
| Mr Zuma has always denied the allegations which are linked to a 1999 arms deal worth billions of dollars. | Mr Zuma has always denied the allegations which are linked to a 1999 arms deal worth billions of dollars. |
| And in April, a judge-led commission of inquiry found no evidence of corruption or fraud by any government officials at the time the deal was made. | |
| Live: Zuma decision announced | Live: Zuma decision announced |
| Profile: Jacob Zuma | Profile: Jacob Zuma |
| After a case brought by the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), Judge Aubrey Ledwaba said last month that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) should consider re-opening the case. | |
| But National Director of Public Prosecutions Shaun Abrahams said that prosecutors should be able to exercise discretion over whether an investigation should continue. | But National Director of Public Prosecutions Shaun Abrahams said that prosecutors should be able to exercise discretion over whether an investigation should continue. |
| Briefing journalists, Mr Abrahams said that this was an issue that affected the separation of powers and that the ruling "has far-reaching ramifications". | Briefing journalists, Mr Abrahams said that this was an issue that affected the separation of powers and that the ruling "has far-reaching ramifications". |
| He said he would be seeking leave to appeal to the Supreme Court against the High Court ruling . | He said he would be seeking leave to appeal to the Supreme Court against the High Court ruling . |
| Quoting legislation that defines the role of the NPA, Mr Abrahams said that he did his job "without fear, favour or prejudice", adding that no-one influenced his decisions. | Quoting legislation that defines the role of the NPA, Mr Abrahams said that he did his job "without fear, favour or prejudice", adding that no-one influenced his decisions. |
| The DA described the prosecutor's decision as a "blatant delaying tactic to shield [Mr] Zuma from his day in court". | |
| Analysis: Milton Nkosi, BBC News, Johannesburg | |
| This decision means that President Jacob Zuma is off the hook, for now. | |
| By appealing against last month's High Court ruling, the NPA has refused to reinstate the charges. | |
| Although chief prosecutor Shaun Abrahams was at pains to explain his independence, the opposition still maintains that he is too close to President Zuma. | |
| If the Supreme Court of Appeal rules against the NPA, Mr Abrahams would have to go to the highest court in the land, the Constitutional Court. | |
| So the allegations of corruption against the 73-year-old president are still going to be in our daily diet for some time to come. | |
| But the president must be breathing a bit easier now. | |
| The DA asked the courts to review the 2009 decision after it got access to the evidence in the so-called "spy tapes" that led the chief prosecutor Mokotedi Mpshe to drop the case. | |
| In 2009, Mr Mpshe said that the tapes - recordings of phone conversations between officials discussing the timing of the case against Mr Zuma - suggested that there was political interference in the investigation. | In 2009, Mr Mpshe said that the tapes - recordings of phone conversations between officials discussing the timing of the case against Mr Zuma - suggested that there was political interference in the investigation. |
| Last month, Judge Ledwaba said Mr Mpshe had "found himself under pressure" when he decided to discontinue the prosecution and "consequently made an irrational decision". | Last month, Judge Ledwaba said Mr Mpshe had "found himself under pressure" when he decided to discontinue the prosecution and "consequently made an irrational decision". |
| "Considering the situation in which he found himself, Mr Mpshe ignored the importance of the oath of office which commanded him to act independently and without fear and favour. | "Considering the situation in which he found himself, Mr Mpshe ignored the importance of the oath of office which commanded him to act independently and without fear and favour. |
| "Mr Zuma should face the charges as outlined in the indictment," the judge said. | "Mr Zuma should face the charges as outlined in the indictment," the judge said. |
| The investigation into Mr Zuma's alleged corruption had become heavily politicised, amid a power struggle between Mr Zuma and then-President Thabo Mbeki. | The investigation into Mr Zuma's alleged corruption had become heavily politicised, amid a power struggle between Mr Zuma and then-President Thabo Mbeki. |
| Mr Zuma was sacked as deputy president in 2005 shortly after his financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, was found guilty of corruption and fraud in relation to the arms deal. | Mr Zuma was sacked as deputy president in 2005 shortly after his financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, was found guilty of corruption and fraud in relation to the arms deal. |
| Controversial arms deal: What you need to know |