By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg has scheduled dates for former president Jacob Zuma to finally face trial in connection with the arms deal corruption.
Zuma is facing several counts of fraud, corruption and money laundering in connection with the arms deal, which the country concluded in the ’90s when he was a senior member of the ANC national leadership.
The former president, who in December defected to the ANC splinter organisation, the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party), stands accused of receiving kick-backs to protect the interests of French arms manufacturer Thales, which is Zuma’s co-accused in the arms deal corruption case.
His trial was supposed to have kicked off in 2021, but was delayed due to the former president’s ill health.
Zuma’s incarceration in July 2021 for defying a Constitutional Court (ConCourt) order to appear before the State Capture Commission, also led to the delay in the start of the trial.
Following Zuma’s release towards the end of 2021, the arms deal trial was put on hold to allow Zuma to exhaust legal avenues available to him in his bid to have the lead prosecutor in the arms deal corruption matter, Advocate Billy Downer, removed from the case.
During the proceedings, KwaZulu-Natal High Court Judge Nkosinathi Chilli has scheduled dates between April and September 2025 for Zuma to finally face trial.
Judge Chili postponed the case against Zuma to 29 August for another pre-trial conference.
Zuma was not in court for Thursday morning’s hearing.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga welcomed the court’s decision to set a date for the start of the trial.
“We are relieved that finally the second and third terms have been reserved by the Judge President for the matter to proceed to trial on the 14th of April 2025 to 20 June 2025, and then from 21 July to 19 September.
“We are hoping that there won’t be any hurdles that would have to be navigated,” he said.
Zuma was first implicated 20 years ago but charges against him were dropped and reinstated numerous times amid allegations of political interference. His corruption trial officially began nearly two years ago but no evidence has yet been heard as Zuma has launched a series of legal challenges.