The long-running corruption trial of South Africa’s former president Jacob Zuma over an arms deal dating back more than two decades was postponed on Tuesday to next month after he was hospitalised last week.
The 79-year-old was admitted to the hospital for observation on Friday for an undisclosed condition, which prompted Tuesday’s hearing to be held virtually rather than in open court.
Wim Trengove, a lawyer representing the state, last month acerbically referred to the postponements as “Stalingrad: Season 27,” apparently referring to an entrenched strategy of delay by the defence.
He is accused of taking bribes from one of the firms, French defence giant Thales, which has been charged with corruption among others. Both Zuma and Thales have pleaded not guilty.
It whould be recalled that Zuma began serving a 15-month jail sentence last month for snubbing a commission probing state corruption under his 2009-2018 presidency.
He remains in hospital at an undisclosed location.
