South Africa’s Zuma Loses Bid To Appeal Against Bribe Trial

In this file photo taken on July 27, 2018 former South African president Jacob Zuma stands in the dock of the High Court of Pietermaritzburg during his hearing over 16 corruption charges. PHOTO: Phill MAGAKOE / POOL / AFP

A South African court on Friday dismissed former president Jacob Zuma’s attempts to appeal against a corruption trial in which he faces charges related to a 1990s arms deal involving France’s Thales.

The High Court in the southeastern city of Pietermaritzburg ruled that “Mr Zuma’s leave to appeal is dismissed”.

Zuma filed an appeal last month ahead of the initial October 15 trial date, in a case that has seen numerous legal turns over a decade and a half.

He is alleged to have taken bribes worth four million rand ($270,000, 240,000 euros) related to a $3.4 billion arms deal in 1999 when he was deputy president.

In all Zuma faces 16 charges of fraud, graft and racketeering related to the purchase of fighter jets, patrol boats and military equipment when he was deputy to the country’s second black president, Thabo Mbeki.

Both Zuma and French defence company Thales, which supplied equipment for navy vessels, deny the charges.

Thales’s application for permission to appeal against the trial was also thrown out at the same time as Zuma’s.

Both Zuma and Thales, have the option to approach the Supreme Court of Appeal or the Constitutional Court in their push to stop a trial, constitutional lawyer and legal commentator  Pierre de Vos told AFP.

Another legal analyst Mpulelelo Zikalala, suggested that “the prospects of success are slim”.

Legal commentators suggest Zuma is simply buying time.

The largest opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomed the High Court decision and said it looked “forward to seeing this matter finally moving towards conclusion”.

“Despite his own repeated assertion that he will welcome the opportunity to have his day in court, Mr. Zuma has done everything in his power to resist being held accountable for the alleged criminal activities in which he was involved during the ‘Arms Deal’,” said the DA’s Shadow Minister of Justice, Glynnis Breytenbach.

Zuma was forced to step down last year by the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party after a nine-year reign marked by corruption allegations and dwindling popularity.

During last week’s court hearing Zuma’s lawyer Muzi Sikhakhane denounced “political interference” in the case.

President Cyril Ramaphosa, who took over from Zuma, has vowed to tackle deep-seated corruption but faces opposition from senior powerful ANC members, many of whom remain Zuma allies.