South Africa’s former president, Jacob Zuma, is due to appear in court on April 6 to face charges of corruption in a years-old $2.5 billion arms deal, his lawyer said on Monday. On March 16, the National Prosecuting Authority earlier said it would seek to prosecute Zuma on 16 charges, including fraud, racketeering, corruption and money laundering. Zuma was charged along with a French arms company Thales.
The case is a dramatic development on a continent where leaders rarely face their accusers in court. “It was served at my Durban offices. The court date is April 6,” Michael Hulley said referring to the summons. He declined to comment on how his client would respond. Zuma has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.
Zuma, who was forced to resign by his ruling African National Congress in February, was at the centre of a 1990s deal to buy European military kit that has cast a shadow over politics in South Africa for years. Zuma was deputy president at the time of the arms deal.
Schabir Shaikh, his former financial adviser, was found guilty and jailed in 2005 for trying to solicit bribes for Zuma from a French arms company. The previous charges were filed against Zuma but then dropped by the NPA shortly before he successfully ran for president in 2009.
Since his election nine years ago, his opponents have fought a lengthy legal battle to have the charges reinstated. Zuma countered with his own legal challenges. Meanwhile, the Hawks believe that the serving of the summonses on former president Jacob Zuma and Thales shows that the State is finally ready to proceed with the criminal prosecution.
The move on Monday follows the announcement two weeks ago that Zuma’s latest representations on why he should not be prosecuted were unsuccessful. The Supreme Court ruled last year that the 2009 decision to halt the case against ther former president was unlawful and set aside.
The Hawks' Hangwani Mulaudzi says that summonses have been served on both Zuma and french arms company Thales. "The date has been set for 6 April nd as such we cannot give any details, however as of right now, the State is ready to proceed.
A representative of the French company is expected to appear in court alongside Zuma, however, it’s understood a person has not yet been been chosen.
Thales' attorney declined to comment on these latest developments saying that he’s not received any instructions from his client.
