Courts & Legal
Jacob Zuma and Thales lose appeal as arms deal trial moves forward
Court clears the way for Jacob Zuma arms deal trial after appeal bid fails
After more than two decades of legal delays, the long-running arms deal corruption case involving former president Jacob Zuma has taken a decisive step forward.
This week, the Pietermaritzburg High Court dismissed an application by Zuma and French arms manufacturer Thales for leave to appeal an earlier ruling that refused to acquit them before trial. The decision removes a key procedural obstacle that has kept the case tied up in the courts for years.
Judge Nkosinathi Chili found that the accused had failed to show any reasonable prospects that another court would reach a different conclusion. With that finding, the path is now clear for the corruption trial to finally begin.
Why this ruling matters now
The rejected appeal follows a June decision in which Judge Chili dismissed attempts by Zuma and Thales to be acquitted without standing trial. That move was widely seen as another effort to delay a case that has already stretched across multiple presidencies and generations of South Africans.
During earlier arguments, the National Prosecuting Authority accused the defence of using what it called infinite Stalingrad tactics. In simple terms, prosecutors argued that repeated legal challenges were designed to exhaust the system and prevent the case from ever being heard on its merits.
Judge Chili echoed concerns long raised about the matter. He warned that the cycle of appeals risked becoming endless, with each ruling followed by yet another application. To limit further delays, he previously urged both sides to keep arguments tightly focused rather than reopening the substance of the case.
A case that shaped public trust
The arms deal, concluded in 1999, has remained one of the most controversial chapters in South African political history. The case centres on allegations of corruption, fraud, racketeering, and money laundering linked to a multibillion-rand defence procurement programme signed shortly after the country’s democratic transition.
Zuma has consistently denied wrongdoing and maintains that the prosecution is politically motivated. Thales has also denied any criminal conduct. Despite these denials, the prolonged delays have fuelled widespread frustration and raised serious questions about accountability and the pace of justice in high-profile cases.
What happens next
With the appeal dismissed, the prosecution can now proceed with the trial at the Pietermaritzburg High Court. While further legal steps are still possible, the ruling marks one of the clearest signals yet that the case will move beyond preliminary arguments and into a full hearing.
After more than twenty years of litigation, the arms deal trial is now closer than ever to being tested in open court.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: CNN
