Van der Merwe clears Zuma of rape charges live on TV in 2006
The judge who acquitted South African president Jacob Zuma of rape charges last year has been recommended for a top spot on the High Court in Gauteng province – leaving some to speculate a political payback is underway.
Zuma is the only one who can either confirm or deny Gauteng Acting Deputy Judge President Willem van der Merwe for the the post of deputy judge president in Gauteng.
Judge van der Merwe has provided over many controversial cases in his career, including that of jailed Vlakplaas commander Eugene de Kock, who was sentenced to a 212-year prison sentence for killing ANC activists. De Kock claimed during a 2007 radio interview that former South African president FW de Klerk had his hands “soaked in blood” for the ordering of political killings and other crimes during the anti-apartheid conflict.
Crowds gathered outside the High Court to hear the Zuma rape verdit in 2006
Zuma faced similar conflict of interest issues last year after a wide-ranging corruption case was suddenly dropped. At the time, Zuma had to confirm recommendations to posts on the Constitutional Court, which had had to decide on an aspect of his corruption trial before he became president.
Judicial Service Commission (JSC) spokesman Dumisa Ntsebeza denied any political payback for Judge van der Merwe, saying Zuma had nothing to do with the recommendation.
“President Zuma is merely acting on the advice of the JSC… he is just at the end of a process.”
Ntsebeza said the recommendations were was made by secret ballot, and the initial nominations came from professional and individual bodies, which then went through a long process before being sent to Zuma.
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I don’t remember. Was the Zuma rape trial a bench trial where the judge gives the verdict or was there a jury?
South Africa abolished trial by jury in 1969.
And of course they NEVER talk about the massive corruption in this once proud White nation! This is a sub normal savage with five wives, and who knows how many little bastards running around. A third grade education, oh how, Afrikaan!!