ZUMA TRIUMPH IN S.A. COURT!

The BBC's Jonah Fisher relives dramatic moments in South Africa's courtroom where corruption charges against ruling party leader Jacob Zuma were dropped.

Jacob Zuma took his seat with a smile and wave to his supporters. The senior members of the ANC (African National Congress) who had travelled down to Pietermaritzburg to support him responded with a round of applause.
It was only when Judge Chris Nicholson walked in - wearing flowing red robes - that the attention focused on the matter at hand.
Sixteen charges of corruption, money laundering, fraud and racketeering had been brought against the ANC president.
A month ago - in the latest step of a drawn out legal process - Mr Zuma's lawyer had asked Judge Nicholson for the charges to be struck down as unlawful.
The judge read his ruling at a steady pace. Talking the court through the steps which had brought Mr Zuma to this point, his words were broadcast live on South African TV.
It had all begun with an arms deal in 1999, an investigation that followed, and then in 2005 Mr Zuma's financial adviser Schabir Schaik was jailed for 15 years for corruption. The first charges brought against Mr Zuma were struck off in 2006, and this was the second attempt by South Africa's National Prosecution Authority to bring the 66-year-old to trial.
Street party
Outside, a crowd of several thousand Zuma supporters listened to every word.
"It's like a football team," one man told me, "We've come here to support our man JZ".
And there were elements of a football match.
Zuma's crowds sang well-practised songs and chants - and many were dressed in the ANC colours of black, green and gold.
Some had shirts with Nelson Mandela on. Others were wrapped in Jacob Zuma fabric. Thabo Mbeki, South Africa's current president and adversary of Mr Zuma, was conspicuous by his absence.
Then two hours after he began, Judge Nicholson delivered his killer line.
"It is declared that the decision taken by the National Prosecuting Authority to prosecute the applicant is invalid and set aside."
The gallery inside the court erupted. Across the road the party started. Veterans of the anti-apartheid struggle danced in khaki military uniforms, while large groups stomped their feet and waved sticks in the air.
"I'm so happy," a woman wrapped in a Zuma sheet told me. "Zuma is one of us. He is our man and he will be our president."

But - in what may turn out to be a very bad day for President Mbeki - the judge went still further, endorsing Mr Zuma's long standing complaint that there were political motives behind the decision to press charges against him.

ZUMA TIMELINE
June 2005: Sacked as deputy president
October 2005: Charged with corruption
December 2005: Charged with rape
April 2006: Acquitted of rape charges
September 2006: Corruption case collapses
December 2007: Elected ANC president; re-charged with corruption shortly afterwards
September 2008: Judge rules corruption case cannot proceed
2009: Elections due

In pictures: Zuma zeal
Timeline: Zuma's legal problems

Mr Zuma was charged in December 2007 - shortly after he had beaten Thabo Mbeki to the presidency of the ANC at a meeting in Polokwane.
Calling the timing "most unfortunate", Judge Nicholson said that it suggested that "baleful political influence" was continuing.
Half an hour after the verdict, Jacob Zuma took to the stage to a hero's welcome.
His supporters' very public battle against the corruption charges has been widely reported as an ANC assault on the independence of the judiciary.
"I believe that this judgement is a lesson to all of us," Mr Zuma said.
"It is a lesson particularly to the legal fraternity. It is a victory for the judiciary. It is a victory for our justice system."

It is expected that Mr Zuma will now seek a permanent stay of prosecution to prevent corruption charges being brought against him for a third time.
"We need to sit down and apply our minds," prosecution spokesman Tlali Tlali said.
"To see if there are options legally available for us to explore. Then we will come back to you and say if we are going to continue the matter or abandon it," the spokesman said.
The prosecutor could try again but the momentum now seems to be firmly with Jacob Zuma.
The dismissing of the corruption charges make it a near certainty Mr Zuma will follow Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki as South Africa's third democratically elected president.
BBC NEWS REPORT.