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South African court opens way for new charges against Zuma

Reporters and lawyers arriving to hear whether the South African governing party's president would again face corruption charges have been greeted by a choir singing his praises.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 11:31 January 12, 2009
  • Gulf News

Bloemfontein: South Africa's appeals court on Monday overturned a ruling dismissing graft charges against ruling ANC leader Jacob Zuma.

The latest court decision will allow the re-opening of corruption charges against Zuma only months before a general election.

The Supreme Court of Appeals said in its judgment that a High Court judge made several errors in a September 12, 2008 ruling.

That ruling set off a storm by saying there was reason to believe Zuma was charged for political reasons, and that then-President Thabo Mbeki may have been involved.

The ANC forced Mbeki to resign as the nation's president, a post Zuma now is in line to win.

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