Mauritius objects to Zuma request

Mauritian Attorney General Rama Valayden has formally objected to a request by ANC President Jacob Zuma to withhold information from investigators in South Africa.

The evidence relates to his impending fraud, corruption and money laundering trial. Zuma travelled to Mauritius earlier this month to try to block evidence from being used by the NPA in court. The Mauritian judge has vetoed a decision to submit an affidavit by March 7 stating the reasons for objecting.

University of KwaZulu-Natal, Law Professor Robin Palmer says this is not the end of the road and Zuma still has a long way to go. Referring to whether Zuma has any more legal avenues he can pursue he said: “If the AG objects to it he can still apply to the court to intervene in the court hearing to decide whether to sanction the release of these documents or not. The court can decide on to rule to object or uphold it.”

Palmer says the fact that they object doesn’t mean it’s the end of the matter. “There is a provision in the Mauritian law that says if it can be shown that the information required or requested is to perpetuate the proposed political trial, that’s open to interpretation, they can on that ground choose to send the information through.”

Palmer says that is Zuma’s main grounds, trying to intervene and argue that his prosecution is politically motivated.