JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Former South African President Jacob Zuma and his co-accused French weapons maker Thales returned to court Thursday to appeal the dismissal of a long-running corruption case against them.
Zuma, one of the key figures in South Africa’s liberation struggle who served as president from 2008 to 2018, has been accused of corruption over a 1999 arms deal.
Here is information about the case:
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Zuma faces 18 charges, including corruption, fraud and money laundering, related to 783 alleged illegal payments he received from French arms manufacturer Thales (formerly Thomson-CSF) and business owner Schabir Shaik.
Zuma has refuted all the accusations, saying they were part of a politically motivated “witch hunt”. He is currently fighting to have the charges dropped after pleading not guilty.
multiple delays
The case has been ongoing for nearly two decades and has faced numerous delays, including legal challenges from Zuma’s team, which has appealed and challenged the charges multiple times.
In a potentially groundbreaking development, the National Prosecuting Authority argued this week before Judge Nkosinati Emmanuel Chili that Zuma and Thales should be prevented from using their appeals to further delay the trial.
“Our problem is that this tactic has delayed the case for 18 years,” defense lawyer Trengrove told the court on Thursday. “Mr Zuma has made eight different interlocutory applications over the years and Thales has been involved in four. They have delayed hearings for over 18 years and all of these applications have been dismissed.”
Lawyers for the former president also questioned the impartiality of lead prosecutor attorney Billy Downer, causing further delays. The former president’s failing health has further stalled the case.
Zuma’s defense lawyers also argued that they would be unable to mount a meaningful defense without the testimony of two key Thales executives in the case – former directors Pierre Moynot and Alain Thetard, who died in 2020 and 2022 respectively.
Zuma’s legal woes
On June 29, 2021, South Africa’s Constitutional Court found Zuma in contempt of court. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison for refusing to testify before the Zondo Commission, a judicial commission investigating corruption allegations.
Zuma surrendered to police on July 7, 2021 and was taken to the Estcourt Correctional Center in KwaZulu-Natal. He was subsequently released on medical parole, but his parole was ruled illegal and he was ordered to return to prison. However, he was later released from prison after his sentence was reduced.
In October, the former president was ordered to repay $1.6 million (R28.9 million) in legal fees unlawfully provided by the state in his personal corruption defense. The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria ruled that Zuma must also pay interest at a prescribed rate.
Zuma has since been trying to appeal the verdict, demanding legal fees and claiming he is not liable.
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