Duduzane Zuma has been found not guilty of culpable homicide.
Phumzile Dube, mother to a young daughter, died after Zuma’s Porsche was involved in a collision with the minibus she was travelling in on the M1, near the Grayston turnoff in Johannesburg, in 2014.
Her family was in court on Friday to hear the verdict.
Supported by former president Jacob Zuma and his sister Duduzile, he heard magistrate Tebogo Thupaatlase declare that there was no evidence that he had failed to keep a proper look-out.
There was an unforeseeable puddle of water, and there was no proof that even by reducing his speed, Zuma could have prevented his vehicle from aquaplaning (losing control of the vehicle because of water on the surface of the road).
Dube’s family members in court appeared disappointed as they emerged from an office after consulting with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), following the verdict.
The NPA initially decided not to prosecute Zuma Jnr. However, after AfriForum’s private prosecution unit had applied to privately prosecute Zuma Jnr, the NPA reversed its initial decision and instituted prosecution. Elias Maangwale, Investigator at AfriForum’s private prosecution unit, accompanied the victim’s family to court and also acted as spokesperson.
“We respect the decision of the court, but the family is not happy,” said Maangwale.
NOMAHLUBI JORDAAN
TimesLIVE/
