Zuma's trial adjourned till August

Zuma

Ex President Jacob Zuma

Ex President Jacob Zuma
Ex President Jacob Zuma

Agency Reports

A South African court today granted former President Jacob Zuma’s request for a delay in his arms deal corruption trial.

Pietermaritzburg High Court Judge Piet Koen adjourned proceedings till August.

Zuma is accused of receiving kickbacks over a $2 billion arms deal from the 1990s.

He pleaded not guilty in May to charges including corruption, fraud and money laundering.

He has evaded prosecution for more than a decade, and portrayed himself as the victim of a politically motivated witch-hunt.

“The trial is adjourned to 10-13 August 2021,” said Judge Piet Koen.

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He did not give the reasons why he allowed the delay.

Zuma has started a 15-month sentence for contempt of court.

He appeared before the Pietermaritzburg court virtually but stayed silent while his legal team argued that a postponement should be granted so that he could appear in person.

Zuma’s jailing this month triggered some of the worst unrest of the post-apartheid era.

There were fears his latest court appearance could lead to a flare-up of violent protests from his support base.

That has not materialised so far.

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