The long-standing legal case involving Zuma former South African President And and French arms company T continues to unfold, with the Pietermaritzburg High Court setting December 4 and 5, 2025,I am running away. linked to the controversial 1999 arms deal.
The accused parties face serious charges of corruption, fraud, racketeering, and money laundering stemming from a multi-billion rand arms procurement deal that has cast a shadow over South African politics for more than two decades. Judge No.with
“This matter is adjourned to 4 December this year, 2025. The court will set aside two dates, that is the 4th and 5th of December. Mr Zuma and Thales do not have to appear in court on that day,” said Judge Chilli.
Prosecutors allege that Zuma was paid at least R4 million in bribes over several years, funneled through his former financial advisor, Schabir Shaik, In
Court Sets December Dates in Zuma Corruption Case
The case has become one of the most prominent examples of alleged state-level corruption in post-apartheid South Africa, symbolizing the entrenchment of political and corporate collusion during Zuma’s rise to power.
Parallel to the corruption trial, Zuma has been actively pursuing efforts to remove State prosecutor Advocate Billy Downer from the case, arguing that Downer is biased and lacks the objectivity required for a fair trial.
In April 2025, Judge Chilli dismissed Zuma’s application for Downer’s recusal, marking yet another legal defeat in Zuma’s broader strategy to delay or derail the trial.
Undeterred, Zuma has since scaled, seeking a ruling that could potentially disqualify Downer from further involvement. Legal experts, however, suggest that the appeal is unlikely to succeed, noting the judiciary’s consistent stance on the matter.
While Former president remains the political figure at the center of the trial, Thales also faces intense scrutiny. The French defense and electronics giant is charged alongside Zuma for its alleged role in facilitating corrupt payments and attempting to influence the arms procurement process through illicit means.
Thales has denied any wrongdoing but has so far failed in its own legal attempts to have the charges dismissed. In June 2025, both Zuma and Thales lost a joint bid to have the case thrown out, with the court ruling that they both have a case to answer.
Observers note that the presence of a multinational company in a South African criminal court underscores the global dimension of corruption and the challenges of holding powerful corporate entities accountable in cross-border cases.
The public and civil society organisations continue to watch the Zuma-Thales trial closely, viewing it as a key test of South Africa’s commitment to combating high-level corruption and enforcing the rule of law.
While Former president remains a divisive figure in South African politics—still enjoying support from certain factions within the African National Congress (ANC)—and
Analysts have warned that further delays in the corruption trial could erode public trust in the legal system. “This case is more than just about former president ,” says political analyst Sibongile Maduna.
Source- EWN
