Publications
Partners
- Jacob Zuma's corruption trial returned to court on Monday.
- Zuma wasn't in court as the matter waits for a ruling from the Constitutional Court on an appeal launched by the former president.
- Should Zuma's appeal fail, the trial is expected to commence in November.
The KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg has postponed former president Jacob Zuma’s corruption trial to allow the Constitutional Court to rule on his latest legal bid to remove Billy Downer as his prosecutor.
On Monday morning, Judge Piet Koen adjourned proceedings to 17 October, for the apex court's decision on Zuma’s "special plea" appeal bid. If the Constitutional Court dismisses Zuma's appeal, the arms deal corruption trial will proceed on 7 November.
READ | Jacob Zuma damned SA to state capture, but Ramaphosa could have weakened its grip - Zondo
Downer confirmed that the former president’s attempt to persuade Supreme Court of Appeal President Mandisa Maya to reconsider her court’s dismissal of his special plea appeal had failed.
Zuma, who was excused from attending court on Monday, is now demanding that the Constitutional Court order Maya to reconsider her decision.
Zuma is adamant that Downer lacks the impartiality and independence to prosecute him.
While Zuma's Foundation has announced that he will privately prosecute Downer for, among other things, allowing court documents to be given to News24, Zuma has yet to issue summons against him.
The former president is facing charges of corruption, fraud, money laundering and racketeering.
French arms company Thales joins Zuma in the dock.
It's alleged Zuma received millions in payments from his friend and former adviser Schabir Shaik to help Thales, then known as Thint, secure contracts linked to the arms deal.
Shaik was convicted in 2005.
Zuma and Thales have pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
