The corruption case involving former South African President Jacob Zuma will continue on July 27 after a Durban High Court adjourned it.
Mr. Zuma on Friday made his second appearance on corruption charges he has denied in relation to a controversial multi-billion rand arms deal.
Charges
The former President is facing prosecution for 18 charges of corruption. The charges relate to 783 questionable payments Zuma allegedly received in connection with a $2.5 billion arms deal in the late 1990s.
Mr. Zuma is facing charges including 1 count of racketeering, 2 counts of money laundering and 12 counts of fraud.
Funding of trial
In court on Friday, his lawyers said they are trying to get the state to fund Zuma’s trial defence. Zuma defence said a letter has been sent to the Presidency, but received no response has been received.
The State Advocate Billy Downer told the court that prosecutors were seeking adjournment in order to give Zuma’s legal team some time to gain clarity on their funding.
The Judge told the court that it is “Too early to say when the case will be set down for trial”. He however adjourned the case to July 27 to the Pietermaritzburg seat of the KwaZulu-Natal High Court.
Zuma Support
Mr. Zuma still has some level of support as hundreds of them gathered outside the court to support him.
Andile Lungisa on Zuma #ZumaCharges #ZumaMarch @TeamNews24 pic.twitter.com/1cZS2fWIaE
— Mxolisi Mngadi (@EmExDurban) June 8, 2018
Mr. Zuma has thanked his supporters for backing him and said he was unfazed by the trial.
“I’m being charged for being part of people who negotiated the arms deal. I also wish to know how I ended up in this process”, he said.
Source: Africafeeds.com
