Lungani Zungu
The Jacob Zuma Arms Deal case has been postponed to 9 and 10 September due to ill-health.
The former president’s lawyer, Advocate Dali Mpofu, told Judge Piet Koen that Zuma was unfit to stand trial for now.
Zuma, who is serving a 15-month jail sentence, was admitted to a military hospital last week, just days before his case was due to go back to court.
Mpofu said Zuma’s doctors had told him that the 79-year-old needed extensive emergency treatment to stabilise his ailing health.
He wouldn’t disclose what Zuma suffered from, saying that was patient-doctor confidential information.
Judge Koen made these three rulings:
- Zuma’s corruption case is postponed to 9 and 10 September 2021.
- The doctors treating him shall provide a report on his health by 20 August.
- The State will appoint a doctor to examine Zuma to establish his fitness to stand trial.
Advocate Wim Trengove said the State was “In the dark” about Zuma’s ailing health.
He said it baffled him why Zuma’s medical needs had been delayed for 18 months until when he was due to go to court.
He said the State believed that any potential hearing about Zuma’s health should be held in open court.
Zuma is accused of receiving bribes from French-based arms company Thales, formerly Thompson CFS in return for protection from future investigations. He has pleaded not guilty to all the corruption, fraud and money laundering charges.
Zuma wants state prosecutor Billy Downer to recuse himself, accusing him of bias and working with international spy agencies, including the CIA.
There was a heavy police presence outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court. Zuma supporters who were expected outside the court changed their plans when they were told that the matter would be held virtually. The Freedom Square precinct, where Zuma’s supporters normally gather when he appears in court, was empty.
