Close Menu
TechCentralTechCentral

    Subscribe to the newsletter

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube LinkedIn
    WhatsApp Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube
    TechCentralTechCentral
    • News

      Vodacom fibre play pushes Maziv valuation above Telkom’s

      20 July 2025

      Crypto industry shoots for mainstream adoption

      20 July 2025

      Vodacom’s Maziv deal gets makeover ahead of crucial hearing

      18 July 2025

      Cut electricity prices for data centres: Andile Ngcaba

      18 July 2025

      Takealot taps Mr D to deliver toys, pet food and future growth

      18 July 2025
    • World

      Grok 4 arrives with bold claims and fresh controversy

      10 July 2025

      Samsung’s bet on folding phones faces major test

      10 July 2025

      Bitcoin pushes higher into record territory

      10 July 2025

      OpenAI to launch web browser in direct challenge to Google Chrome

      10 July 2025

      Cupertino vs Brussels: Apple challenges Big Tech crackdown

      7 July 2025
    • In-depth

      The 1940s visionary who imagined the Information Age

      14 July 2025

      MultiChoice is working on a wholesale overhaul of DStv

      10 July 2025

      Siemens is battling Big Tech for AI supremacy in factories

      24 June 2025

      The algorithm will sing now: why musicians should be worried about AI

      20 June 2025

      Meta bets $72-billion on AI – and investors love it

      17 June 2025
    • TCS

      TCS+ | Samsung unveils significant new safety feature for Galaxy A-series phones

      16 July 2025

      TCS+ | MVNX on the opportunities in South Africa’s booming MVNO market

      11 July 2025

      TCS | Connecting Saffas – Renier Lombard on The Lekker Network

      7 July 2025

      TechCentral Nexus S0E4: Takealot’s big Post Office jobs plan

      4 July 2025

      TCS | Tech, townships and tenacity: Spar’s plan to win with Spar2U

      3 July 2025
    • Opinion

      A smarter approach to digital transformation in ICT distribution

      15 July 2025

      In defence of equity alternatives for BEE

      30 June 2025

      E-commerce in ICT distribution: enabler or disruptor?

      30 June 2025

      South Africa pioneered drone laws a decade ago – now it must catch up

      17 June 2025

      AI and the future of ICT distribution

      16 June 2025
    • Company Hubs
      • Africa Data Centres
      • AfriGIS
      • Altron Digital Business
      • Altron Document Solutions
      • Altron Group
      • Arctic Wolf
      • AvertITD
      • Braintree
      • CallMiner
      • CambriLearn
      • CYBER1 Solutions
      • Digicloud Africa
      • Digimune
      • Domains.co.za
      • ESET
      • Euphoria Telecom
      • Incredible Business
      • iONLINE
      • Iris Network Systems
      • LSD Open
      • NEC XON
      • Network Platforms
      • Next DLP
      • Ovations
      • Paracon
      • Paratus
      • Q-KON
      • SevenC
      • SkyWire
      • Solid8 Technologies
      • Telit Cinterion
      • Tenable
      • Vertiv
      • Videri Digital
      • Wipro
      • Workday
    • Sections
      • AI and machine learning
      • Banking
      • Broadcasting and Media
      • Cloud services
      • Contact centres and CX
      • Cryptocurrencies
      • Education and skills
      • Electronics and hardware
      • Energy and sustainability
      • Enterprise software
      • Fintech
      • Information security
      • Internet and connectivity
      • Internet of Things
      • Investment
      • IT services
      • Lifestyle
      • Motoring
      • Public sector
      • Retail and e-commerce
      • Science
      • SMEs and start-ups
      • Social media
      • Talent and leadership
      • Telecoms
    • Events
    • Advertise
    TechCentralTechCentral
    Home » Current affairs » 6 legal battles that will shape SA’s future

    6 legal battles that will shape SA’s future

    By Agency Staff21 November 2016
    Twitter LinkedIn Facebook WhatsApp Email Telegram Copy Link
    News Alerts
    WhatsApp

    gavel-640

    The courts are becoming the main theatre of political battles in South Africa as feuding for power and access to state funds in Africa’s most industrialised economy intensifies.

    Opposition parties scored a resounding victory over President Jacob Zuma in March, when the constitutional court found he’d breached his oath of office by refusing to comply with a directive from the nation’s graft ombudsman to repay taxpayer money spent on upgrading his private home. Zuma is warding off more allegations — that he accepted bribes, breached the government’s code of ethics and made inappropriate appointments — all of which he denies.

    Here’s an outline of some of the key legal battles:

    1. Zuma’s 783 charges
    Zuma is appealing against a 29 April high court ruling that prosecutors erred when they decided to drop 783 charges of fraud, corruption and racketeering against him just weeks before he became president in May 2009. The supreme court of appeal is expected to announce whether it will hear the case early next year. The original lawsuit aimed at having the charges reinstated was filed by the Democratic Alliance, the biggest opposition party, and was opposed by the National Prosecuting Authority.

    2. Gupta connection
    The DA also filed criminal charges against Zuma on 15 November after a report by former graft ombudsman Thuli Madonsela indicated that he may have allowed members of the Gupta family, who are his friends and in business with his son, to influence cabinet appointments and the awarding of state contracts. The party asked police to probe whether two cabinet ministers, the outgoing head of the state power utility, the Guptas and several others implicated in the report broke the law. Investigations are ongoing. Zuma may start a court challenge to Madonsela’s directive that he should set up a commission of inquiry into the matter.

    3. Bank Accounts Shut
    In an affidavit dated 13 October, finance minister Pravin Gordhan asked the high court to order that he shouldn’t intervene in a decision by the country’s largest banks to shut Gupta-controlled company accounts, as the family demanded, because he didn’t have the authority and the lenders’ actions appeared warranted. His court papers implicated family members and their businesses in 72 suspect transactions totaling R6,8bn. The Guptas said all the transactions were legitimate and they’ll oppose Gordhan’s application. A court date has yet to be set.

    4. Gordhan’s charges
    On 2 November, prosecutors abandoned plans to charge Gordhan with fraud for approving the early retirement of a tax agency official and then allowing him to be rehired on a contract basis. They are still investigating whether the finance chief broke the law when he oversaw the establishment of an investigative unit at the time he headed the national tax agency almost a decade ago. Gordhan said all the allegations against him are baseless and being driven by people intent on raiding the national treasury.

    5. Prosecutor in trouble
    Civil-rights groups Freedom Under Law and the Helen Suzman Foundation filed a lawsuit on 8 November aimed at forcing Zuma to suspend Shaun Abrahams, the nation’s chief prosecutor, and two of his subordinates for filing unfounded fraud charges against Gordhan. The prosecutors deny any wrongdoing, and Zuma says the lawsuit is premature because he has already instituted an inquiry into whether they are fit to hold office. The high court is due to hear the case on 24 November.

    6. Lying Under Oath
    The two civil rights groups filed a separate case in March aimed at preventing Berning Ntlemeza from exercising his duties as the head of a police investigative unit known as the Hawks. They argue that his appointment was unlawful and irregular because the high court ruled last year that he was untrustworthy and had lied under oath. Ntlemeza and police minister Nathi Nhleko argue that the courts don’t have the power to determine whether the head of the Hawks is fit to hold office. The high court is due to hear the case on 6 December.  — (c) 2016 Bloomberg LP



    Subscribe to TechCentral Subscribe to TechCentral
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Email Copy Link
    Previous ArticleMTN’s Mteto Nyati takes the fight to No 1
    Next Article ‘Abused’ Zuma to face parliament grilling

    Related Posts

    Vodacom fibre play pushes Maziv valuation above Telkom’s

    20 July 2025

    Crypto industry shoots for mainstream adoption

    20 July 2025

    Vodacom’s Maziv deal gets makeover ahead of crucial hearing

    18 July 2025
    Company News

    Vertiv to acquire custom rack solutions manufacturer

    18 July 2025

    SA businesses embrace gen AI – but strategy and skills are lagging

    17 July 2025

    Ransomware in South Africa: the human factor behind the growing crisis

    16 July 2025
    Opinion

    A smarter approach to digital transformation in ICT distribution

    15 July 2025

    In defence of equity alternatives for BEE

    30 June 2025

    E-commerce in ICT distribution: enabler or disruptor?

    30 June 2025

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    © 2009 - 2025 NewsCentral Media

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.