Zuma’s corruption trial postponed to next year
THE Pietermaritzburg High Court yesterday certified a mutual consent order to postpone the case involving former president Jacob Zuma and French arms company Thales to February next year.
In the case, Zuma stands accused of pocketing bribes during the 1998-99 procurement of arms. He denies the charges, saying that they are politically motivated.
The bribes, including a R500 000 annual retainer, were allegedly paid by his former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, and came from Thales, a French arms company that won tenders to supply arms.
During a court sitting that lasted for about seven minutes, Judge Nompumelelo Radebe ruled that the matter should be postponed as all parties were still awaiting a ruling on whether the National Prosecuting Authority should drop racketeering against Thales.
Advocate Billy Downer, the lead prosecutor in the case, told the court that all parties proposed the February date.
The judge then asked Zuma’s legal representative for the day, advocate Simiso Mtungwa, to confirm Downer’s assertion and once he had done so, the judge certified the agreement.
“The consent order is as follows: Having read the papers filed on record and considered the submissions of counsel for the State and the accused, which submissions were on paper, the court orders as follows: 1. The matter is postponed provisionally to February 23 for the resolution of the following outstanding pre-trial management issues with a view to the court at the provisionally hearing on February 23, 2021, certifying the matter as trial-ready in accordance with the judge president’s pre-trial hearing directives dated November 7, 8.
“1.1 The full judgment on Thales application for review heard on October 26 2020.
“1.2 Further clarity on the resumption of international travel under Covid-19 restrictions which affects witnesses and the Thales representative, Mr Durant from abroad.
1.3 “The state’s answer to Thales application for further and better particulars dated November 23.
“This order is dated on December 8, 2020 at the Pietermaritzburg High Court,” the judge ruled.
Zuma and his legal team, advocate Eric Mabuza, advocate Muzi Sikhakhane and advocate Thabani Masuku were not present in court. Neither was a Thales representative in court.
That was due to a prior arrangement between the three parties which was communicated to the court and accepted by the presiding judge.
Responding through an international public relations company with a presence in the country when asked what exactly is the information they want from the NPA, the company said: “Thales does not comment on ongoing legal procedures.”