Trial of former South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma has been adjourned awaiting his appeal to the Supreme Court to have the chief prosecutor dismissed.
The court will reconvene on May 17 to determine the way forward, with the former President denying the charges, calling them a ‘witch-hunt’ by political rivals.
The former president was unable to attend Monday’s hearing in Pietermaritzburg, claiming he was too ill.
Zuma is accused with various counts of fraud, racketeering, and money laundering in connection with a $2 billion armaments sale with a French business in the 1990s.
After Zuma was arrested in a separate case in July, violent protests erupted in various parts of South Africa.
Recall that News Central on Sunday reported that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has declared its intention to fight former South African president, Jacob Zuma’s threats to once again, have his pending corruption trial delayed.
The NPA Spokesperson described Zuma’s threats to pursue a private prosecution against Downer as “another intimidating and delaying tactic on their part. They know those charges cannot be substantiated, hence the DPP KwaZulu-Natal declined to prosecute in the matter and NDPP refused to accede to their request for removal of Adv Downer.”
The former president had previously, made strong efforts to have lead prosecutor advocate Billy Downer removed from the case, but failed. His recent decision to have the case postponed again because “he did not agree with the way the matter was unfolding,” has been described by the NPA as another delay tactic, which will not be bought at all.
