NKANDLA, SOUTH AFRICA SEPTEMBER 14: Khulubuse Zuma with his uncle President Jacob Zuma during his traditional wedding to Princess Fikisiwe Dlamini on September 14, 2014 in Nkandla, South Africa. President Jacob Zuma was among 5000 guests at the wedding party held at Khulubuses multimillion-rand home in Nkandla. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sunday Times / Thembinkosi Dwayisai)
At this time, the NPA has not furnished a reason for why state prosecutors moved to stop pursuing charges against family members of former presidents Jacob Zuma and Nelson Mandela, as well as their business partners.
NKANDLA, SOUTH AFRICA SEPTEMBER 14: Khulubuse Zuma with his uncle President Jacob Zuma during his traditional wedding to Princess Fikisiwe Dlamini on September 14, 2014 in Nkandla, South Africa. President Jacob Zuma was among 5000 guests at the wedding party held at Khulubuses multimillion-rand home in Nkandla. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sunday Times / Thembinkosi Dwayisai)
Khulubuse Zuma, Zondwa Mandela and fellow Aurora business partner Thulani Ngubane have escaped prosecution after the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed the water pollution trial was stricken off the roll.
As reported by SABC News, the state made the announcement on Twitter, putting an end to a court case that has been hampered by delays for 10 years.
The NPA has confirmed that the case against former #Aurora Empowerment Systems directors Khulubuse Zuma, Zondwa Mandela and Thulani Ngubane has been struck from the Springs Regional court roll.#sabcnews
— Chriselda ‘Babes WeNdaba’ Lewis ™️ (@Chriseldalewis) February 26, 2020
The pre-trial proceedings were expected to kick off at the Springs Regional Court on Tuesday, with the trial dates set for 8 to 25 June 2020 and 23 to 29 July 2020.
The State and the defence had previously been in a war of words over several delays in the case.
— Chriselda ‘Babes WeNdaba’ Lewis ™️ (@Chriseldalewis) February 26, 2020
The charges relate to 2010 when they allegedly polluted water resources by discharging untreated mine water into the Blesbokspruit.#sabcnews
At this time, the NPA has not furnished a reason for why state prosecutors moved to stop pursuing charges against the children of former presidents Jacob Zuma and Nelson Mandela, as well as their business partners.
Khulubuse Zuma and Zondwa Mandela, together with former co-directors Thulani Ngubane and Raja Zainal Alam Shah, founded Aurora Empowerment Systems with the intention of taking control of some of Pamodzi gold mines which, 10 years ago, were placed under provisional liquidation.
Jacob Zuma’s nephew Khulubuse Zuma was Aurora’s former chair, while Zondwa Mandela, late president Nelson Mandela’s grandson, was the mining group’s former managing director.
Operating under the guise of being knowledgable and skilled in the maintenance of a mining company, the four directors dug the now failed Grootvlei Mine into deeper financial trouble, selling off its assets and leaving at least 5 000 workers without salaries.
The matter that stood before the Springs Regional Court, however, concerned the charge related to the pollution of a key water source, the Blesbok Spruit.