Pietermaritzburg court orders Zuma arms deal trial to proceed, criticises ‘Stalingrad’ delay tactics

High Court in Pietermaritzburg rules trial must start despite defence challenges

The KwaZulu‑Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg has ruled that the long‑running 1999 arms deal case against former president Jacob Zuma and French company Thales must proceed without further delay. The judgment was delivered on 14 May 2026.

State wins bid to block further postponements

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) had filed a counter‑application to stop what it described as a “Stalingrad” strategy by Zuma and Thales to stall the trial. The court found in favour of the state and rejected further delay tactics.

Judge Nkosinathi Chili criticises delay tactics

Judge Nkosinathi Chili told the court that Zuma had been employing interlocutory applications to delay the commencement of the trial. He noted that a factual finding that Zuma was implementing delay tactics had been made by multiple courts.

“A factual finding has been made several times, not only by the full court of this division and the Gauteng Division, but also by the Supreme Court of Appeal that Mr Zuma is implementing Stalingrad delay tactics to the commencement of the trial.”

Chili said allowing the strategy to continue unchecked would risk serious harm to the interests of justice and could bring the administration of justice into disrepute.

“It is not only the interest of Mr Zuma and Thales that the court has to take into account when considering the state’s application, but also the interest of society. This court owes the public a duty to facilitate the expeditious commencement and management of the criminal trial.”

He concluded that the trial must proceed irrespective of interlocutory applications filed by the state, Zuma or Thales.

Next steps and trial date

After an adjournment, prosecutor Billy Downer told the court that the state and the defence had agreed on a start date of 1 February 2027 for the trial. He said both parties were available for two court terms, though he cautioned it was impossible to predict the length of the matter.

Judge Chili postponed the matter to next year to reflect the court’s direction that the trial proceed.

Background: prior rulings and related legal actions

The decision follows earlier litigation. In June 2025 a bid by the accused to have corruption, fraud, racketeering and money laundering charges dropped was rejected. An appeal was dismissed by Judge Chili in February 2026, and the state’s application seeking to stop delay tactics had been deferred until this week.

The record before the court also includes Zuma’s earlier efforts to privately prosecute Billy Downer and journalist Karyn Maughan over the alleged sharing of court documents. Several courts, including the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court of Appeal, described that move as an abuse of process and the prosecution application was removed from the roll. Zuma also made repeated, unsuccessful attempts to have Downer recused from the arms deal trial on grounds of alleged bias.

What the court said about public interest

Judge Chili emphasised the broader public interest in ensuring the timely administration of justice, warning that failure to intervene where a delay strategy has been established would compromise the integrity of the court.

“Failure by the court to intervene in circumstances where it has been sufficiently established that the strategy implemented by the defence is designed to delay the commencement of the trial will no doubt compromise the integrity of the court and the administration of justice.”

Key facts:

• Court: KwaZulu‑Natal High Court, Pietermaritzburg
• Date of ruling: 14 May 2026
• Parties: National Prosecuting Authority, Jacob Zuma, Thales
• Trial start date agreed by parties: 1 February 2027