This archive report was first published on 19 July 2021.
South Africa's High Court in Pietermaritzburg resumed the graft trial of former president Jacob Zuma on July 19, 2021, in a bid to avoid another wave of deadly unrest that swept the nation after his imprisonment in an unrelated case.
Security was tight around the court, with armed police and soldiers deployed to quell recent riots. A helicopter flew above, and a brown military vehicle towered over armoured police vehicles, according to an AFP reporter at the scene.
Zuma, 79, faces 16 charges of fraud, graft, and racketeering related to the 1999 purchase of fighter jets, patrol boats, and military gear from five European arms firms when he was deputy president. He is accused of taking bribes from French defence giant Thales, which has been charged with corruption and money laundering.
On June 29, Zuma was found guilty of contempt of South Africa's top court for snubbing graft investigators probing his time as president. He was jailed on July 8, leading to widespread unrest and looting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces, claiming over 200 lives.
Monday's hearing could reignite tensions that had eased by the weekend, analysts warn. Zuma's legal team has applied for chief prosecutor Billy Downer to recuse himself from the case over claims he leaked information to the media. The National Prosecuting Authority will vigorously oppose the application.
