‘Spy Tapes’ handover imminent

The crowd waiting outside the High Court in Pretoria on Thursday for the handover of the "spy tapes" cheered when told it was imminent.

"Give us the tapes," they shouted as Gauteng Democratic Alliance leader John Moodey gave them the update outside the court.

DA leader Helen Zille entered the court earlier after addressing the crowd.

The National Prosecuting Authority was expected to hand over documents and recordings to the DA, which led to the dropping of fraud and corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma and arms company Thint.

The Supreme Court of Appeal ruled 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.

President Jacob 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.

Conversations on the recordings were cited as a reason to drop the charges, shortly before Zuma was sworn in as president in 2009.

Zille said she believed there were political reasons for the charges being dropped.

"If this happens in a democratic country you can't call it a democracy anymore," she said.

"Today we say give us the spy tapes, we want to know the reasons."

After Zille's address, spokeswoman Phumzile van Damme told the crowd: "The DA is the only party in South Africa that can hold Jacob Zuma accountable."

Regional DA chairman Solly Msimanga said the corruption of those in power needed to be exposed.

"If you think us getting the tapes is the end, you're mistaken. It's the beginning, we're going to take them head-on," Msimanga said.

"No matter how many millions you want to use to prevent us from getting the truth, we'll get to the truth."

Msimanga and the crowd chanted, "Sies, Zuma, sies" and "enough is enough".

"South Africans claim your power back," Msimanga said.

DA spokesman Marius Redelinghuys called the day a historic one and a victory for the Constitution.

"We can't allow one person to tear it up and walk over it with no shame," he said.

He added that the president had to answer questions.

Source : Sapa /gf/jje/jk/th