This archive report was first published on 29 November 2019.
Published on November 29, 2019, a High Court in Pietermaritzburg ruled against Jacob Zuma's leave to appeal in a case related to a $3.4 billion arms deal in 1999.
Former South African President Jacob Zuma is alleged to have taken bribes worth four million rand ($270,000, 240,000 euros) when he was deputy president.
He faces 16 charges of fraud, graft, and racketeering related to the purchase of fighter jets, patrol boats, and military equipment when he was deputy to President Thabo Mbeki.
Both Zuma and French defense company Thales, which supplied equipment for navy vessels, deny the charges.
Thales's application for permission to appeal against the trial was also thrown out at the same time as Zuma's.
Legal commentators suggest Zuma is simply buying time, and the prospects of success are slim, according to Mpulelelo Zikalala.
The Democratic Alliance welcomed the High Court decision and said it looked forward to seeing this matter finally moving towards conclusion.
"Despite his own repeated assertion that he will welcome the opportunity to have his day in court, Mr. Zuma has done everything in his power to resist being held accountable for the alleged criminal activities in which he was involved during the 'Arms Deal'," said the DA's Shadow Minister of Justice, Glynnis Breytenbach.
