Dates finally set for Zuma's arms deal trial
Two decades after Jacob Zuma was charged with corruption relating to the arms deal, dates have been set for him to finally face trial.
News24 reports that KZN High Court Judge President Thoba Portia Poyo-Dlwati has scheduled dates between April and September 2025 for Zuma's trial.
After KZN High Court (Pietermaritzburg) Judge Nkosinathi Chili postponed the case against Zuma to 29 August for another pre-trial conference, NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga said the state hoped there would be no further delays in the case.
Given the fact that the Judge President has reserved those two dates in the second and third term for the trial to proceed, we are hoping that there are no hurdles that we will have to navigate now and that, finally, the matter will proceed.
‘Remember, (Zuma and his co-accused, French arms company Thales) have already pleaded, and even the fact that there is now going to be a second pre-trial conference is a frustration for the state, but we are hoping that on 29 August that pre-trial conference will iron out any outstanding preliminary issues so that on 14 April 2025 the trial proceeds,’ Mhaga said.
According to the pre-trial minute prepared by the state, Zuma's trial will take place from 14 April to 20 June 2025, and then from 21 July to 19 September 2025.
Prosecutor Billy Downer SC yesterday told Chili that the state and Thales had also agreed that the case could proceed for three weeks from November this year, but Zuma's legal representation, Advocate Dali Mpofu SC, had indicated that the former President was ‘not available at all’ at that time.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
