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Today, 10 February 2010

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Yesterday, 09 February 2010

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› 'Illegal' traps blasted

› Madiba to grace Parliament

President Thabo Mbeki has called for a speedy conclusion of a probe into the alleged role of his deputy Jacob Zuma in arms deal corruption.

"You can't have it dragging on for ever. The sooner the matter is concluded the better," Mbeki told reporters in Pretoria on Tuesday.

He said he had also conveyed this sentiment to Justice Minister Penuell Maduna.

Mbeki expressed concern about the allegations and counter-accusations on the issue reported in the media over the past few days.

Zuma questions report

Zuma has questioned the leaking to the Sunday Times newspaper of 35 questions Scorpions detectives had asked him to answer on his alleged misconduct.

This was "totally unacceptable and despicable", the deputy president said.

"Despite my silence ... there have been constant leaks of information to the media which was clearly designed to cast aspersions on my integrity.

The elite Scorpions unit operates under the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions, headed by Bulelani Ngcuka.

Ngcuka has denied the questions were leaked by the unit, and claimed he was the subject of a smear campaign relating to the unit's investigations.

'Debate over leakages doesn't help'

On Tuesday, Mbeki said he doubted the debate over the leakages helped the investigators or those being probed.

The mere fact of the allegation against Zuma was a matter of concern.

"But I suppose the prosecuting authorities would not have said what they have said or done what they are doing if they didn't think they had just cause to do it," Mbeki said.

"And I would imagine the deputy president wouldn't make the statements he is making unless he was convinced that he has just cause to say the things he is saying."

Mbeki said it was not for him to say who was wrong and who was right.

"I really do wish that this matter could move forward as speedily as possible so that the thing could get resolved, whichever way."

Most questions around Schabir Shaik

Scorpions' spokesperson Sipho Ngwema earlier said most of the questions to Zuma related to his relationship with his financial adviser Schabir Shaik — himself under investigation regarding the arms deal — and Shaik's company Nkobi Holdings.

The main allegation against Zuma is that he tried to solicit R500 000 from a company which benefited from the arms deal.

In return, he allegedly offered to protect the firm during subsequent investigations.

Mbeki said he could not express himself on the substance the charges, adding he did not intervene in such investigations.

"The law-enforcement agencies must do their work as they think is right. Indeed, if there is any course to charge any person, of course they must proceed and do so," he said.

"The court must hear such cases and determine what is the truth."

Sapa