This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7985273.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Zuma corruption charges dropped | Zuma corruption charges dropped |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Prosecutors in South Africa have announced they are dropping corruption charges against African National Congress (ANC) leader Jacob Zuma. | Prosecutors in South Africa have announced they are dropping corruption charges against African National Congress (ANC) leader Jacob Zuma. |
| Chief prosecutor Mokotedi Mpshe described the decision as the most difficult of his life. | Chief prosecutor Mokotedi Mpshe described the decision as the most difficult of his life. |
| Mr Zuma is widely expected to become the country's next president after elections later this month. | Mr Zuma is widely expected to become the country's next president after elections later this month. |
| He was accused of graft, racketeering and money-laundering in connection with a 1999 arms deal. | He was accused of graft, racketeering and money-laundering in connection with a 1999 arms deal. |
| Mr Zuma has always denied the charges, saying they were part of a political plot. | Mr Zuma has always denied the charges, saying they were part of a political plot. |
| The chief prosecutor said the decision had serious implications for the legal system in South Africa. | The chief prosecutor said the decision had serious implications for the legal system in South Africa. |
| He said the decision related to the illegal manipulation of the prosecution system, as revealed by secret recordings of conversations with the former head of the National Prosecution Authority (NPA), Bulelani Ngcuka. | |
| "I have come to the difficult conclusion that it is neither possible nor desirable for the NPA to continue with the prosecution of Mr Zuma," Mr Mphse said, reading his statement live on radio and television. | |
| "It is a difficult decision because the NPA has expended considerable resources on this matter, and it has been conducted by a committed and dedicated team of prosecutors and investigators who have handled a difficult case with utmost professionalism and who have not been implicated in any misconduct," added Mr Mpshe. |