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| Version 13 | Version 14 |
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| 'Enough evidence' to charge Zuma | 'Enough evidence' to charge Zuma |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| South Africa's top prosecutor says there is enough evidence to charge the new leader of the governing party, Jacob Zuma, with corruption. | South Africa's top prosecutor says there is enough evidence to charge the new leader of the governing party, Jacob Zuma, with corruption. |
| The charges relate to a controversial arms deal, which saw one of Mr Zuma's advisers jailed for 15 years. | The charges relate to a controversial arms deal, which saw one of Mr Zuma's advisers jailed for 15 years. |
| Mr Zuma, 65, who denies wrongdoing, has been addressing his party for the first time since defeating President Thabo Mbeki in a bitterly-fought election. | Mr Zuma, 65, who denies wrongdoing, has been addressing his party for the first time since defeating President Thabo Mbeki in a bitterly-fought election. |
| He told the African National Congress he would work with his defeated rival. | He told the African National Congress he would work with his defeated rival. |
| Mr Zuma defeated Mr Mbeki in a bitterly-fought contest on Tuesday. | Mr Zuma defeated Mr Mbeki in a bitterly-fought contest on Tuesday. |
| Making his first speech as ANC leader, the former deputy president - sacked by Mr Mbeki in 2005 - said no Zuma-Mbeki split could be allowed to emerge. | Making his first speech as ANC leader, the former deputy president - sacked by Mr Mbeki in 2005 - said no Zuma-Mbeki split could be allowed to emerge. |
| "None of us is bigger than the organisation or the ANC," he told delegates at the party's conference. | "None of us is bigger than the organisation or the ANC," he told delegates at the party's conference. |
| Mr Mbeki's spokesman on Thursday denied rumours that the president was now considering stepping down before the end of his term in 2009. | Mr Mbeki's spokesman on Thursday denied rumours that the president was now considering stepping down before the end of his term in 2009. |
| In his speech, Mr Zuma laid out his vision for the ANC and for South Africa, stressing that the organisation remained committed to "broad-based black empowerment", and to a reduction in crime levels. | In his speech, Mr Zuma laid out his vision for the ANC and for South Africa, stressing that the organisation remained committed to "broad-based black empowerment", and to a reduction in crime levels. |
| 'Cloud' | 'Cloud' |
| The BBC's Will Ross, at the conference in Polokwane, says the timing of the prosecutor's announcement has come as a surprise to many people. | The BBC's Will Ross, at the conference in Polokwane, says the timing of the prosecutor's announcement has come as a surprise to many people. |
| JACOB ZUMA Played key role in fight against apartheidPlagued by corruption allegationsAcquitted on rape chargesSeen as charismatic href="/1/hi/world/africa/7154928.stm">Zuma enjoys crowning class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7153473.stm">Controversial arms deal | |
| Speaking on South Africa's 702 Talk Radio, Mokotedi Mpshe said the investigation into Mr Zuma was complete, and that "all we are doing now is tying [up] the loose ends". | |
| Mr Zuma's lawyer, Michael Hulley, told the Reuters news agency that he had not been notified about possible legal action against the ANC leader. | Mr Zuma's lawyer, Michael Hulley, told the Reuters news agency that he had not been notified about possible legal action against the ANC leader. |
| "I can only speculate that the actions of the [acting head of the NPA] are fuelling and lending credence to the idea that state resources are being used against my client," he said. | "I can only speculate that the actions of the [acting head of the NPA] are fuelling and lending credence to the idea that state resources are being used against my client," he said. |
| Mr Zuma was sacked as deputy president after he was implicated in a corruption trial that saw his former financial adviser Schabir Shaik convicted of fraud and corruption. | Mr Zuma was sacked as deputy president after he was implicated in a corruption trial that saw his former financial adviser Schabir Shaik convicted of fraud and corruption. |
| The case against Mr Zuma was withdrawn last year, but the NPA has been gathering new evidence and fresh charges have been expected for some time. | The case against Mr Zuma was withdrawn last year, but the NPA has been gathering new evidence and fresh charges have been expected for some time. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Zuma himself has always demanded his day in court. He maintains he is innocent and it is only fair he has a chance to prove his innocence Frank Hartry, Amanzimtoti Send us your comments class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/4615019.stm">Zuma: Comeback kid class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7153378.stm">Timeline: Zuma's legal woes | |
| Mr Zuma said last week that he would only step down from is position in the ANC when he was found guilty in court. | |
| His supporters have portrayed the investigation into Mr Zuma as part of a conspiracy mounted against him by the elite Scorpions police unit, which was set up by Mr Mbeki. | His supporters have portrayed the investigation into Mr Zuma as part of a conspiracy mounted against him by the elite Scorpions police unit, which was set up by Mr Mbeki. |
| ANC treasurer-general Mathews Phosa, an ally of Mr Zuma, said the charges hanging over Mr Zuma's head were "a cloud manipulated by the Scorpions", the AFP news agency reported. | ANC treasurer-general Mathews Phosa, an ally of Mr Zuma, said the charges hanging over Mr Zuma's head were "a cloud manipulated by the Scorpions", the AFP news agency reported. |
| Unity plea | Unity plea |
| In an unrelated, high-profile case last year, Mr Zuma was cleared of rape. His supporters say those charges against him were also politically motivated. | In an unrelated, high-profile case last year, Mr Zuma was cleared of rape. His supporters say those charges against him were also politically motivated. |
| As the new leader of the ANC, Mr Zuma is in a strong position to become the country's next president when Mr Mbeki steps down in 2009. | As the new leader of the ANC, Mr Zuma is in a strong position to become the country's next president when Mr Mbeki steps down in 2009. |
| The leadership contest between Mr Mbeki and Mr Zuma was bitterly fought, and divided the ANC. | The leadership contest between Mr Mbeki and Mr Zuma was bitterly fought, and divided the ANC. |
| Afterwards, Mr Zuma's supporters called for unity, saying it was not the moment for triumphalism or revenge. | Afterwards, Mr Zuma's supporters called for unity, saying it was not the moment for triumphalism or revenge. |
| But the shockwaves from the conference are being felt across South Africa, says BBC Africa analyst Martin Plaut, and after more than a decade of stability, everything seems in flux. | But the shockwaves from the conference are being felt across South Africa, says BBC Africa analyst Martin Plaut, and after more than a decade of stability, everything seems in flux. |