South Africa Court Clears Way for Zuma's Arms Graft Trial
Judge Nkosinathi Chili rejected delay tactics and said the 1999 arms deal case must proceed, with trial dates provisionally set for 1 February 2027.
- On Thursday, the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg ordered the arms deal trial of former President Jacob Zuma and French arms company Thales to proceed, rejecting defense stalling tactics.
- The case stems from a 1990s $2 billion arms deal; Zuma, once dubbed the "Teflon president," faces over a dozen charges including fraud and corruption for allegedly taking bribes from Thales while deputy president.
- Judge Nkosinathi Chili rejected the "Stalingrad" strategy—a series of interlocutory applications designed to delay—stating the "interests of justice" demanded the trial continue, or risk bringing "grave injustice" to the administration.
- Prosecutor Billy Downer confirmed the state and defense agreed on a trial start date of February 1, 2027, with the court mandating proceedings continue regardless of future interlocutory applications.
- Zuma led South Africa from 2009 until 2018, when the African National Congress forced him out amid graft scandals; his 2021 imprisonment for 15 months sparked riots leaving more than 350 dead.
15 Articles
15 Articles
South Africa: Judge Condemns Zuma's 'Stalingrad Defence' As Arms Deal Trial Date Is Finally Set
Characterising repeated legal challenges as a 'Stalingrad defence' tactic that has stalled justice for years, Judge Nkosinathi Chili has ruled that former president Jacob Zuma's long-running 1999 arms deal trial must finally proceed.
A South African court ordered on Thursday 14 May the resumption of a trial for corruption, repeatedly postponed, against former president Jacob Zuma. He is accused of having touched more than 25 years ago the bribes of the French defense group Thales, also prosecuted.
Judge rules Zuma used ‘Stalingrad Tactics’ to delay arms deal trial
Jacob Zuma and Thales are set to face trial as the Pietermaritzburg High Court rules against further delays in their long-standing arms deal case, a significant development after two decades of legal battles.
Zuma and Thales ordered to stop ‘Stalingrad tactics’ in arms deal trial – The Mail & Guardian
Former president Jacob Zuma and his co-accused, French arms company Thales, have been directed by the Pietermaritzburg High Court to stop using “Stalingrad tactics” to avoid standing trial in their corruption case. Judge Nkosinathi Chili ordered that the state, Zuma and Thales approach the court’s registrar to arrange suitable trial dates. “It is directed that the trial is to proceed irrespective of any interlocutory application, either by the …
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