2006年VOA标准英语-South African Judge Withdraws Zuma Corruption C

By Delia Robertson
Johannesburg
20 September 2006

Corruption charges against former South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma are no longer scheduled for a court date. However, the decision is not a permanent stay of prosecution¹.

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Jacob Zuma addresses supporters outside court in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Wednesday Sept. 20, 2006

South African Judge Herbert Msimang on Wednesday withdrew the case against former South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma after the prosecution said it was not ready to proceed.

Judge Msimang did not rule on the merits of the case, and no evidence has been presented in court. He said that his decision was motivated by the length of time it has taken to finalize² the case against Zuma. He added that the effect of this was that Zuma had suffered social prejudice akin³ to "punishment that should only be handed to a convicted person."

Law professor Robin⁴ Palmer told national radio that the charges are likely to be reinstated.

"If the matter is struck off the roll, the prosecution then has the option to withdraw the charges against Mr. Zuma, they declined to do so; and the effect then is that the matter cannot proceed until it is enrolled⁵ again and the effect also would be that the prosecution would have to recharge Mr. Zuma before the matter can proceed," Palmer said.

The National Prosecuting⁶ Authority, or NPA, says it will take a few days to review the judge's decision before making an announcement about how it intends to proceed. NPA spokesman, Makhosini Nkosi, told VOA that because it is such a high-profile matter, in which the accused says he is innocent and the prosecution has argued that it has a strong, winnable case, it should not be determined⁷ on issues of procedure.

"It is not a matter that should be determined on the basis of procedural technicalities," Nkosi said. "It is a matter that should be determined on the basis of its merits, there should be a trial, so the accused are either found guilty or not guilty."

Unless the charges are reinstated against him, Zuma will be free to run next year for the leadership of the governing African National Congress Party, or ANC. If he is successful in that bid, he will most likely become South Africa's next president.

In recent weeks, he has delivered a series of fiery⁸ speeches, in which he has continued to reiterate⁹ that the case against him is political, and designed to prevent him from becoming president of South Africa. Following the judge's decision, Zuma told his supporters gathered outside the court he is innocent of all charges. He said the media sentenced him even before he has been been convicted in a court of law.

1 prosecution   

n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营

参考例句：

• The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
• He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。

2 finalize   

v.落实，定下来

参考例句：

• Let us finalize tonight.让我们今天晚上干完
• 。At the same time,industrial designers work with engineers to finalize components and assembly.同时，工业设计师和工程师一道来完成部件和组装部分的工作。

3 akin   

adj.同族的，类似的

参考例句：

• She painted flowers and birds pictures akin to those of earlier feminine painters.她画一些同早期女画家类似的花鸟画。
• Listening to his life story is akin to reading a good adventure novel.听他的人生故事犹如阅读一本精彩的冒险小说。

4 robin   

n.知更鸟，红襟鸟

参考例句：

• The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
• We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。

5 enrolled   

adj.入学登记了的v.[亦作enrol]( enroll的过去式和过去分词 )；登记，招收，使入伍（或入会、入学等），参加，成为成员；记入名册；卷起，包起

参考例句：

• They have been studying hard from the moment they enrolled. 从入学时起，他们就一直努力学习。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He enrolled with an employment agency for a teaching position. 他在职业介绍所登了记以谋求一个教师的职位。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 prosecuting   

检举、告发某人( prosecute的现在分词 )； 对某人提起公诉； 继续从事（某事物）； 担任控方律师

参考例句：

• The witness was cross-examined by the prosecuting counsel. 证人接受控方律师的盘问。
• Every point made by the prosecuting attorney was telling. 检查官提出的每一点都是有力的。

7 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

8 fiery   

adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的

参考例句：

• She has fiery red hair.她有一头火红的头发。
• His fiery speech agitated the crowd.他热情洋溢的讲话激动了群众。

9 reiterate   

v.重申，反复地说

参考例句：

• Let me reiterate that we have absolutely no plans to increase taxation.让我再一次重申我们绝对没有增税的计划。
• I must reiterate that our position on this issue is very clear.我必须重申我们对这一项议题的立场很清楚。