Share

Zuma spy tapes: Zille gets them in 'tamper-evident security bag'

Pretoria - The so-called "spy tapes" and other documents used to justify dropping fraud and corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma were handed to DA leader Helen Zille on Thursday.

As she walked out of the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, Zille held the bag, with the words "tamper-evident security bag" printed on it, containing the material, above her head.

Zille told reporters the bag contained transcripts of recordings and a memory stick.

"A forensic computing expert will take the bag from me," she said.

"I have only had this in my possession in the presence [of the expert]."

The National Prosecuting Authority handed the material to the court earlier on Thursday, before it was given to the DA.

This followed the Supreme Court of Appeal ruling last week that within five days the NPA had to comply with a previous order, in an application brought by the DA, to release the tapes. Zuma had opposed the move.

The recordings, internal memoranda, reports and minutes of meetings dealing with the contents of the recordings had to be provided.

The tapes, containing recorded phone conversations, allegedly reveal collusion between the former heads of the Directorate of Special Operations, the now defunct Scorpions, Leonard McCarthy, and the NPA's former head Bulelani Ngcuka, to manipulate the prosecutorial process before the ANC's Polokwane conference in 2007. Zuma was elected ANC president at the conference.

At the time, acting NPA boss Mokotedi Mpshe said they showed there was a political conspiracy against Zuma and so the case against him could not continue. The charges were dropped shortly before Zuma was sworn in as president in 2009.

Zille said her party would use the evidence in its application to have the decision to drop charges against Zuma reviewed.

"It's a very, very important package I hold in my hands. It's the culmination of six court cases in five years."

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you think corruption-accused National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will survive a motion of no confidence against her?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
No, her days are numbered
41% - 326 votes
Yes, the ANC caucus will protect her
59% - 464 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.94
-0.2%
Rand - Pound
23.93
-0.2%
Rand - Euro
20.45
+0.1%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.36
-0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.2%
Platinum
911.00
+1.6%
Palladium
1,012.02
+1.0%
Gold
2,215.47
+0.9%
Silver
24.79
+0.6%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
68,346
+1.0%
All Share
74,536
+0.9%
Resource 10
57,251
+2.9%
Industrial 25
103,936
+0.6%
Financial 15
16,502
-0.1%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE