High court matters delay Zuma’s Zondo testimony

Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, chairperson of the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, says former president Jacob Zuma’s appearance next week has been postponed to November 11 to 15.

Zuma was expected to testify from Monday to Friday next week.

However, his lawyers “have indicated that, arising out of the judgment affecting him in the Pietermaritzburg High Court, he and the lawyers are supposed to deal with certain matters next week”.

Zuma appeared in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg on charges of fraud, corruption, money laundering and racketeering on Tuesday.

Pre-trial proceedings were postponed to February 4.

Zuma’s lawyer, Thabani Masuku, told the court at the start of the trial that the former president would appeal, dragging on a case that has seen numerous legal twists over 15 years. Zuma has until November 1 to file papers and the leave to appeal application will be heard on November 22.

Zondo is to determine other dates for the former president’s appearance at the inquiry.

Zuma is accused of taking bribes worth R4 million, before he became president, from a R51 billion 1999 arms purchase by five European firms, including French defence company Thales, which is accused of paying the bribes.

Zuma faces 16 charges related to the purchase of fighter jets, patrol boats and military equipment when he was deputy president to Thabo Mbeki.

His former financial advisor, Schabir Shaik, who allegedly facilitated Thales’ payments, was in 2005 sentenced to 15 years behind bars.

Additional reporting by AFP and News24 Wire