CORRUPTION CHARGES: TIMELINE
October 1995 The South African Air Force decides to replace some of its jets.
March 1997 The government approves a plan to replace defence hardware.
October 1997 Deputy president Thabo Mbeki opens a tender for the supply of arms estimated to cost around R12-billion.
November 1998 The cabinet approves the arms deal at a price tag of R30-billion. On the same day, Zuma, then a provincial minister, meets with his personal financial adviser Schabir Shaik and an official from French arms dealer Thomson-CSF. The Auditor-General raises a red flag over the deal as “high-risk”.
June 1999 Mbeki is elected president of South Africa with Zuma as his deputy.
September 1999 An opposition politician, Patricia de Lille, alerts parliament that the arms deal could be fishy and calls for an inquiry. December 1999 Finance Minister Trevor Manuel seals off the deal at R29.9-billion. February 2000 The serious economic crimes offences police unit, known as the Scorpions, launch investigations.
November 2002 Local media reports Zuma, who is not yet president, is under investigation. October 2004 Trial of Zuma’s adviser Shaik opens. June 2005 Shaik is convicted and jailed for 15 years for fraud and corruption. Four years later, he is released on medical parole in 2009, the year Zuma becomes president.
● Zuma is charged with having had a “generally corrupt” relationship with Shaik. Mbeki fires him
as deputy president.
● Zuma is formally indicted on two graft charges. December 2007 Zuma is elected president of the ANC, unseating Mbeki. Ten days later, Zuma is slapped with fraud, corruption, money laundering and racketeering charges for allegedly getting kickbacks from one of the bidders.
September 2008 A judge rules that the corruption charges against Zuma are invalid.
April 2009 Acting chief prosecutor Mokotedi Mpshe withdraws charges against Zuma based on the phone conversation of the so-called “spy tapes” that suggest the charges were politically motivated. May 2009 Zuma is sworn in as South Africa’s
president.
October 2011 Zuma appoints a judiciary panel into the arms deal.
April 2016 The panel clears all government officials of corruption over the arms deal. Days later the Pretoria High Court rules that the 2009 decision to drop the charges was “irrational” and that charges must be reinstated.
October 2017 The Supreme Court of Appeal rules that Zuma is liable for prosecution.
February 2018 Zuma is forced to resign as South African president by his party in the wake of mounting corruption scandals around him.
March 2018 Prosecutors decide he should face 12 counts of fraud, two of corruption, one of racketeering and one of money laundering. — AFP