Zuma’s trial postponed

PIETERMARITZBURG – The trial of South African former deputy president Jacob Zuma has been postponed to September 5, the presiding judge in the politically-laden case said yesterday.

Judge Herbert Msimang made the order after Zuma’s lawyer asked for the case to be scrapped and suggested that the State be given two weeks to reply in writing to the request. Earlier in court, Zuma’s lawyer Kemp J.Kemp said he would ask for the case to be struck off the court roll.A lawyer for Zuma’s co-accused, the local subsidiary of the French arms company Thales, also asked for a “permanent stay of prosecution by virtue of violation of constitutional rights.”Zuma is on trial over a multi-billion-dollar 1999 government arms deal in which he is accused of taking money from Thales’ local subsidiary Thint.Zuma was sacked by President Thabo Mbeki last year after his financial adviser Schabir Shaik was sentenced to 15 years in jail.- Nampa-AFPEarlier in court, Zuma’s lawyer Kemp J.Kemp said he would ask for the case to be struck off the court roll.A lawyer for Zuma’s co-accused, the local subsidiary of the French arms company Thales, also asked for a “permanent stay of prosecution by virtue of violation of constitutional rights.”Zuma is on trial over a multi-billion-dollar 1999 government arms deal in which he is accused of taking money from Thales’ local subsidiary Thint.Zuma was sacked by President Thabo Mbeki last year after his financial adviser Schabir Shaik was sentenced to 15 years in jail.- Nampa-AFP