Thabo Mbeki criticisesformer retired High Court Judge Chris Nicholson

Raymond Pani

15 February 2016

In one of his latest letters, former president Thabo Mbeki criticises retired High Court judge Chris Nicholson, who presided over the corruption case against President Jacob Zuma.

Mbeki says Nicholson wrongly accused him and others in his government of a political conspiracy to charge Zuma.

Mbeki said Nicholson offered no explanation for his September 2008 judgment, in which he dismissed criminal charges against Zuma.

He cited a political conspiracy to influence the case by Mbeki and others. In his judgment, Nicholson said the timing of the charges by former acting National Prosecuting Authority head Mokotedi Mpshe was most unfortunate.

The charges were laid after Zuma replaced Mbeki as ANC president at the party’s Polokwane conference in December 2007.