JOHANNESBURG — Former South African President Jacob Zuma and his co-accused, the French arms manufacturer Thales, returned to court on Thursday to appeal for the dismissal of the long-running corruption case against them.
Zuma, one of the key figures of the South African liberation struggle who served as president from 2009 to 2018, is accused of corruption in connection with an arms transaction in 1999.
Here’s what to know about the case:
Zuma faces 18 charges, including corruption, fraud, and money laundering, linked to 783 alleged illegal payments he received from Thales (formerly Thomson-CSF) and business owner Schabir Shaik.
Zuma has denied every indictment, saying the accusations are part of a “witch hunt” with political motivations. He is currently fighting to have the charges dropped after pleading not guilty.
The case has been ongoing for nearly two decades, facing multiple delays including legal challenges by Zuma’s team, which has repeatedly appealed and challenged the charges.
In a potentially groundbreaking development, the National Prosecuting Authority is arguing before Judge Nkosinathi Emmanuel Chili this week that Zuma and Thales should be blocked from using appeals to further delay the trial.
“Our problem is that this strategy has delayed the case for 18 years,” prosecutor Wim Trengove told the court on Thursday. “Mr. Z