A Durban court has dismissed Jacob Zuma‘s bid to remove state advocate Billy Downer from prosecuting his arms deal corruption trial.
Billy Downer must prosecute Arms Deal case, Durban court rules
In a significant development, the Pietermaritzburg High Court, on Wednesday, ruled against the former South African president’s latest legal manoeuvre to have Downer removed as the lead prosecutor in his high-profile corruption trial.
Judge Nkosinathi Chili delivered the judgment, emphasising that Zuma’s claims of prosecutorial bias did not substantiate a threat to his right to a fair trial under the South African Constitution.
Zuma’s grievances centred around Downer, accusing him of bias that, he argued, would impede a fair trial.
However, Judge Chili’s assessment was clear: Zuma’s allegations did not meet the threshold necessary to justify Downer’s removal.
This ruling marked the continuation of legal battles surrounding Downer’s role, following an unsuccessful plea by Zuma in 2021 and subsequent attempts to bring criminal charges against Downer and a journalist, which were also dismissed by the Supreme Court of Appeal.
What happens next? – Pretrial
Following Wednesday’s landmark ruling, Downer vocalised the prosecution’s stance against further delays, advocating for the matter to speedily move to determine trial dates as soon as possible.
This insistence comes after years of postponements and legal wrangling that have characterised the Zuma arms deal case.
“We’re now sitting in March 2024 for a trial which has been the subject of abuse and delay for six years – to start further down the line than six months from now we just find it unacceptable… The State’s attitude is that this matter must go to trial as soon as possible,” Downer said.
Following the day’s proceedings, Judge Chili set the stage for the next phase of this legal saga by scheduling a pretrial conference for 17 May 2024.
What is the Arms Deal case about?
The arms deal case, involving Jacob Zuma, is a cornerstone in South Africa’s recent political and legal history, spotlighting issues of corruption and governance.
At the heart of the matter is a multi-billion dollar arms acquisition project embarked upon by the South African government in the late 1990s.
The deal, worth about $5 billion at the time, aimed to modernise the country’s defence capabilities but soon became mired in allegations of widespread corruption and bribery.
Zuma is accused of having a central role in this saga, with charges against him including corruption, racketeering, and fraud.
The allegations suggest that Zuma, both before and during his presidency, received numerous bribes from French arms manufacturer Thales.
These bribes were purportedly in exchange for political protection and to influence the arms procurement process in favour of the company in question.
The trial seeks to unravel the extent of Zuma’s involvement and the broader implications of the corruption allegations on South Africa’s political landscape.