Photo Credit:Esa Alexander.

Former President Jacob Zuma’s corruption trial which was scheduled to resume on May 6 — is expected to be postponed until June 23, following an agreement between the state and defence. 

According to Business Day,The parties in the case have submitted the proposed date to KwaZulu-Natal deputy judge president Mjabuliseni Isaac Madondo, who will advise them on whether he agrees to the new trial date.

It remains unclear whether Zuma’s appearance at the Pietermaritzburg High Court will take place during level 4 of the nationwide lockdown. It had been planned for Wednesday. However, Zuma’s lawyer, Eric Mabuza, said the matter had through agreement been postponed to June 23. 

Yesterday, Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng issued a directive to nine judge presidents on how court cases should be handled during lockdown. On criminal trials, which might affect Zuma’s case, Mogoeng said: “Criminal trials already set down for hearing during the national state of disaster period shall be dealt with and disposed of in a manner determined by the head of the court”. 

On Wednesday, His Foundation confirmed that the Constitutional Court had accepted Zuma’s withdrawal of his last-ditch bid to appeal the dismissal of his application for a permanent stay of prosecution. 

Zuma stands accused of accepting millions of rand in corrupt benefits from his former financial adviser Schabir Shaik, in return for him using his position in government to advance Shaik’s business interests. 

He also faces charges that he accepted a R500,000-a-year bribe from Thales, facilitated by Shaik, in exchange for his “political protection” from any potential arms deal investigation.