Johannesburg - The prosecution of South Africa's ruling African National Congress leader and presidential candidate Jacob Zuma was invalid, a court ruled Friday. Judge Chris Nicholson in the Pietermaritzburg High Court agreed with Zuma that prosecutors did not follow proper procedure in charging him with corruption, fraud and racketeering, and money laundering.
The ruling is a coup for Zuma, who is anxious to avoid a trial before or after elections next year, at which he is tipped to succeed Thabo Mbeki as president. it
The charges stem mainly from his relationship with fraudster, Schabir Shaik, who was sentenced to 15 years in 2005 for corruption in a state arms deal.
