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S Africa's Zuma returns to court Zuma fate delayed till September
(about 3 hours later)
The leader of South Africa's ruling African National Congress is in court for a second day as he tries to get graft charges against him thrown out. A South African judge says he will rule next month on whether the corruption trial of the leader of South Africa's ruling party, Jacob Zuma, can go ahead.
Jacob Zuma stands accused of corruption, fraud, racketeering and money-laundering over an arms deal. Judge Chris Nicholson also set 8 December as a provisional date for a criminal trial.
Mr Zuma's lawyers are arguing that delays in bringing the case to court mean he will not get a fair trial. Mr Zuma, who is favourite to become president next year, denies charges of corruption linked to an arms deal.
Supporters again gathered outside the court. After the first day Mr Zuma told them he was not "afraid of anything". His legal team have argued that delays in bringing the case to court mean he would not get a fair trial.
In Zulu, he thanked the cheering crowds for standing by him through thick and thin. For the second day running, a large crowd of Mr Zuma's supporters has gathered outside the High Court where Judge Nicholson set 12 September as the date he would give his ruling.
Mr Zuma says he is the victim of a political conspiracy designed to prevent him from becoming South Africa's next president. The BBC's Peter Biles says Mr Zuma's supporters are waiting for him to address them, as he did on Monday night, in what was a colourful and high-spirited event.
"Those who know me will know that I am not a coward. I have never been afraid of anything... I was willing to die for this country and I am prepared to die for it," AFP news agency quotes him as saying. 'Conspiracy'
He then sang his trademark anti-apartheid guerrilla song, Bring Me My Machine Gun. Mr Zuma's colleagues in the leadership of the African National Congress (ANC) are standing firmly by him.
Mr Zuma has said he will stand down as ANC leader only if he is found guilty. Critics say he is just trying to delay proceedings until after he is elected president. They say he is been the victim of a political conspiracy intended to prevent him becoming South Africa's president in elections due to be held before July 2009.
Bitter campaign Mr Zuma has said he will stand down as ANC leader only if he is found guilty of the charges - corruption, fraud, racketeering and money-laundering.
The shadow of corruption has been hanging over Mr Zuma for several years.
ANC allies to come out for ZumaIn pictures: Rallying for Jacob ZumaANC allies to come out for ZumaIn pictures: Rallying for Jacob Zuma
Critics say he is just trying to delay proceedings until after he is elected president.
The shadow of corruption has been hanging over Mr Zuma for several years.
In 2005 he was sacked as South Africa's deputy president when his financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, was found guilty of soliciting a bribe on behalf of Mr Zuma and jailed for 15 years in connection with an arms deal.In 2005 he was sacked as South Africa's deputy president when his financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, was found guilty of soliciting a bribe on behalf of Mr Zuma and jailed for 15 years in connection with an arms deal.
Mr Zuma then went on trial, but the case collapsed in 2006 when the prosecution said it was not ready to proceed.Mr Zuma 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.He was charged again last December shortly after winning a bitter campaign against President Thabo Mbeki to become ANC leader.
The leadership of the party is standing squarely behind him.
Mr Zuma suffered a setback last week when he lost a legal bid to stop documents seized from his home and other locations being used as evidence in a trial.Mr Zuma suffered a setback last week when he lost a legal bid to stop documents seized from his home and other locations being used as evidence in a trial.
The ANC says it expects Mr Zuma, a former deputy president, to be its candidate for president in next year's election, when Mr Mbeki steps down.The ANC says it expects Mr Zuma, a former deputy president, to be its candidate for president in next year's election, when Mr Mbeki steps down.
In February 2006, Mr Zuma was acquitted of rape in a separate case, though he was widely criticised for comments about sex and HIV/Aids.In February 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 Pietermaritzburg? Can Mr Zuma be president while facing corruption charges?
Are you in Pietermaritzburg? Can Mr Zuma be president while facing corruption charges?
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