'He is so old and now we are wasting money running behind
him' – Zuma supporters
Die-hard supporters of corruption accused, former president Jacob Zuma,
say he should be allowed to retire in peace and not be disturbed by criminal
proceedings.
Zuma appeared in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Monday where his
corruption trial, linked to 16 charges relating to 783 payments he allegedly
received in connection with the controversial Arms Deal, kicked off.
Supra Mahumapelo: We must allow Jacob Zuma to 'go into obscurity' with grace and dignity
Former North West premier Supra Mahumapelo said on Monday said that those who wanted to "inflict pain" on corruption-accused former president Jacob Zuma before and after the dawn of democracy had achieved their objective.
Mahumapelo, who was outside the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg on Monday morning ahead of what was meant to be the start of Zuma's corruption trial, said Zuma's reputation had been harmed enough.
Zuma to plead 'not guilty' when case resumes on 26 May
Former president Jacob Zuma will plead not guilty to corruption charges when he returns to court on 26 May. Zuma appeared in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg on Monday, where the matter was postponed.
Zuma's advocate Thabani Masuku SC indicated that they wished to bring a "special plea". He also added that Zuma was ready to proceed with the trial.
#Zumatrial Happening now: Former President Jacob Zuma along with son Duduzane and other ANC members are now on a stage just outside the High Court in Pietermaritzburg. (@ietskaylo) pic.twitter.com/wbc2Lb04nV
"Zuma was the president of the ANC. He must be supported at all times. As ANC leaders, that's how we were brought up in the ANC," Magashule told a group of journalists as he entered court. | @kaveelshttps://t.co/GvSK0X5RcA
Barry Roux, for French arms company Thales, says it is ready to proceed. Case adjourned to 26 May.
17 May 2021
Masuku: Mr Zuma is ready to proceed with the trial, he has always been ready to proceed with the trial. He adds that it should "never be regarded" that the plea he intends to raise is a sign that he is not ready to proceed.
17 May 2021
Downer confirms that the State "has already been ready to begin" and asks that its first witness Patricia de Lille be excused.
17 May 2021
Koen now reading out the directions for the broadcast of the Zuma trial - which will allow witnesses to object to being filmed. Audio will be broadcast. These appear to be the same broadcast conditions that were used in the Oscar Pistorius trial.
17 May 2021
Koen indicates that Zuma trial will resume on 26 May, so that his "special plea" can be dealt with.
17 May 2021
BREAKING: Zuma advocate confirms that he will plead "not guilty", once case gets under way
17 May 2021
Downer stresses that the State needs to know exactly what the "special plea" application will entail before it can respond to it.
17 May 2021
Important to stress that we do not know the case that Zuma's lawyers will bring with regard to Downer's presence in the case. It seems Zuma wishes to bring an application for a "special plea" on Wednesday - an application which requires the State to be given formal notice.
17 May 2021
Prosecutor Billy Downer confirms that the defence intends to apply for his recusal. As yet, though, he has not seen the papers.
17 May 2021
Koen grants Zuma attorney Eric Mabuza the right to withdraw.
17 May 2021
Judge Piet Koen points out that the case against Zuma was certified as trial ready in February this year. He know asks Masuku whether he is ready to proceed with the case?
Yes I am, he says.
17 May 2021
It seems the delay in the case starting is linked to discussions over when it will be postponed to. Timeline will be crucial, as the State is determined to avoid long delays.
17 May 2021
Former SAA board chairperson Dudu Myeni's advocate Nqabayethu Buthelezi is now part of the Zuma legal team, alongside Thabani Masuke, who resigned with Zuma's former lawyers three weeks ago, but has now returned to represent him.
17 May 2021
WATCH | Showing support: Suspended ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule in KZN for Zuma trial
17 May 2021
Former South African president Jacob Zuma speaks with a member of his legal team in the High Court in Pietermaritzburg. (ROGAN WARD / POOL / AFP)
17 May 2021
Former South African president Jacob Zuma speaks with a member of his legal team in the High Court in Pietermaritzburg. (ROGAN WARD / POOL / AFP)
Former President Zuma arrives in court this morning, where it now seems certain his lawyers will ask that the case against him not proceed today - so that he can apply for the recusal of Billy Downer, the lead prosecutor against him. pic.twitter.com/pnFTX3TTj4
WATCH | 'Long live Jacob Zuma’ chanted from gallery as the former president arrives in court
17 May 2021
Former President Zuma arrives in court this morning, where it now seems certain his lawyers will ask that the case against him not proceed today - so that he can apply for the recusal of Billy Downer, the lead prosecutor against him. pic.twitter.com/pnFTX3TTj4
WATCH | Support for Jacob Zuma outside court, as corruption trial gets under way
17 May 2021
Zuma's attorney former attorney Eric Mabuza is also in court this morning, after being summoned to explain exactly why Zuma's legal team resigned three weeks before his trial was due to start. While the exit has been linked to the Appeal Court ruling that confirmed Zuma was not entitled to government funding of his corruption trial defense costs, Mabuza has reportedly told the court it was due to undisclosed "ethical reasons".
17 May 2021
BREAKING: Former President Zuma's legal team have told the State that they intend to apply for the recusal of lead prosecutor Billy Downer, News24 has learnt from impeccable sources - but they will only be ready to file that application on Wednesday. It is now certain there will be a battle about when and how this case actually starts.
17 May 2021
Inside the Pietermaritzburg High Court. (Karyn Maughan, News24)
17 May 2021
Inside the Pietermaritzburg High Court. (Karyn Maughan, News24)
17 May 2021
WATCH: A small group of @PresJGZuma supporters are outside the PMB High Court. An RET coordinator source says these supporters come of their own volition. While buses were ready to transport supporters yesterday, leadership decided against it. @News24#Zumatrial (@kaveels) pic.twitter.com/fQHVfiw1Ro
I'm outside the High Court in Pietermaritzburg where ANC members, including #AceMagashule have arrived in support of Former president Jacob Zuma. The much anticipated trial is expected to begin this morning.#Zumatrial (@ietskaylo) pic.twitter.com/cdZtXix5iN
I'm outside the High Court in Pietermaritzburg where ANC members, including #AceMagashule have arrived in support of Former president Jacob Zuma. The much anticipated trial is expected to begin this morning.#Zumatrial (@ietskaylo) pic.twitter.com/cdZtXix5iN
ANALYSIS | After demanding his trial start, is Zuma finally going to plead to the case against him?
For well over a year, former president Jacob Zuma has repeatedly stated that he wants to face his Arms Deal corruption trial as soon as possible - but will he finally plead to the charges against him on Monday morning?
A deep dive into the big business story of the week, as well as expert analysis of markets and trends, curated by News24 Business editor Helena Wasserman.
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