Jacob Zuma Arms Deal Trial Postponed to 17 May Following Hospital Admission, South Africans React to the Delay
- Former President Jacob Zuma was hospitalised after being too ill to attend his arms deal trial on Monday, 11 April
- He faces charges of fraud and corruption and the case has been postponed to 17 May at Pietermaritzburg High Court
- An Anti-Corruption activist said Zuma’s hospitalisation is an attempt to disable the case and undermine justice
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PIETERMARITZBURG - Former President Jacob Zuma is confirmed to be admitted to hospital for a medical condition after he was too sick to attend court today for his arms deal trial.
Zuma and French arms company Thales were due to appear at the Pietermaritzburg High Court on charges of fraud and corruption on Monday, 11 April. The trial has been postponed to 17 May.
Source: Getty Images
The Jacob Zuma Foundation Spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi confirmed that Zuma is presently undergoing tests, according to News24. Manyi did not reveal which hospital the former president has been admitted to but said that a medical certificate with the relevant details would be drafted.
Anti-Corruption Activist from Open Secrets Hennie Van Vuuren said Zuma’s hospitalisation is an attempt to disable the case and undermine justice.
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“The strategy benefits the former president and his legal team as well as Thales. Fortunately, the date isn’t too far in the future, we are now only a matter of weeks away. I think the state has a very strong case,” said Van Vuuren in an interview with eNCA.
South Africans react to Zuma’s illness
@TheWorldofHein said:
“May 2023...or 2024? Just need to pencil in the diary. Oh my next year’s diary is not printed yet!”
@SindisoBaliso commented:
“Delay tactics as usual.”
@Muhlonishwa posted:
“This thing will drag until Msholozi passes on that the plan I guess.”
@JanetFGallagher shared:
“Surprise - Surprise - Not actually - Yawn!”
@Gift_Matsane stated:
“We all expected it.”
@ProjectAuuman wrote:
“He is going to die from old age before he even goes in huh?”
@Skanier added:
“This ballie will never see prison.”
Former President Jacob Zuma said to be too sick to attend arms deal corruption trial
Briefly News also reported that Former President Jacob Zuma and co-accused, Thales, a french weapons company were expected to make a court appearance at the Pietermaritzburg High Court to face charges of fraud and corruption in relation to the arms deal scandal.
However, ahead of the court appearance, Mzwanele Manyi who is the Jacob Zuma foundation spokesperson, announced that Zuma was too sick to attend court proceedings on Monday, 11 April.
Manyi alleged that Zuma's health took a sharp turn on Sunday and it was believed all would be well by Monday morning, however, Zuma's health did not get any better and the doctor advised that he should not appear in court, reports TimesLIVE.
Source: Briefly News
