Zuma lawyers push for S.Africa graft trial to be dropped

Lawyers for former South African president Jacob Zuma argued in court Monday that he could not expect a fair trial as they fought to have corruption charges against him over a multi-million-dollar arms deal dropped.

Zuma, who was forced to resign by the ruling ANC party last year, has been charged with 16 counts of fraud, racketeering and money laundering relating to the weapons deal dating back to before he took office in 2009.

Zuma, 77, is accused of taking bribes from French defence company Thales during his time as a provincial economy minister and later as deputy president of the African National Congress (ANC) in the 1990s.

He allegedly pocketed around four million rand ($280,000, 250,000 euros) from 783 payments handled by Schabir Shaik, a businessman who acted as his financial adviser.

The charges were first brought against Zuma in 2005 but dropped by prosecutors in 2009, before being reinstated in 2016.

Zuma's legal counsel Muzi Sikhakhane said that the case was at the "intersection of law and politics" and that Zuma faced "mob justice" and "lynching" due to prejudice against him.

Sikhakhane argued that Zuma's constitutional right to a prompt trial "had been compromised or violated to the point where we could say 'a fair trial can never happen'."

He accused prosecutors of being "over-zealous" and asked: "Does he get stripped of human dignity because he is Mr Zuma? Must he be dealt with with less humanity."

Both Zuma and Thales deny any wrongdoing and have applied to the court for a permanent stay of prosecution.

'Politics is not good'

"Bearing in mind the very long delay of this procedure -- through no fault of Thales at all -- together with a range of factors beyond its control, Thales believes it cannot obtain a fair trial," the company said in a press statement.

"Thales reiterates that it has no knowledge of any transgressions having been committed by any of its employees."

Zuma has been charged with 16 counts of fraud, racketeering and money laundering. By GIANLUIGI GUERCIA (AFP/File)

Outside the Pietermartizburg high court, Zuma's supporters held a rally for the former president.

"Politics is not good. Some people, they don't like Zuma -- that's why they took him to court," Vukhani Khumalo told AFP, saying court proceedings against him should be scrapped.

Zuma sat in court wearing a suit and red tie and looking occasionally at papers in front of him.

After the court adjourned for the day, he spoke to the waiting crowds, saying his rights were being undermined before breaking out in his trademark singing.

A separate judicial enquiry into alleged state corruption during Zuma's time as president is underway in Johannesburg.

His successor, President Cyril Ramaphosa, who held on to power when the ANC won national elections earlier this month, has vowed to root out corruption in the government and the party.

Zuma, who is thought to have little personal wealth, was ordered by a court last year to pay back state funds and cover his own costs in the case, leaving him with large legal bills.

The hearing is set to last until Friday but the court will not sit on Wednesday.