Staff Reporter.
The author of the forensic report that forms the basis of former president Jacob Zuma’s upcoming corruption trial, Johan van der Walt, has died in Johannesburg.
It was still unclear what caused Van der Walt’s death, but sources close to family said he had died of natural causes.
Prior to joining FTI Consulting in 2017 as a senior managing director, Van der Walt worked for KPMG as a partner and forensic auditor. He authored the report into the money flows between Zuma and his former financial advisor Schabir Shaik.
Shaik was found guilty of fraud and corruption in June 2005, and Van der Walt was the State’s chief witness in his trial.
The Pietermaritzburg High Court on Tuesday set down the arms deal trial to 9 and 10 September following an application by Zuma’s legal team to postpone the case due to his admission in hospital.
Zuma faces 16 counts including fraud‚ corruption, money laundering and racketeering, while Thales – which allegedly bribed him – faces four counts.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has lined up 217 witnesses to testify in the trial.
Ironically Van der Walt was lined up to be the main witness against Zuma when his corruption trial resumes in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg later this month.
Meanwhile the NPA said the death of van der Walt will not affect proceedings and the organisation was saddened by his death.
He famously told Judge Hilary Squires in that case in 2004 that he was not a watchdog, but a bloodhound.
He is survived by his wife and three sons.