Former president Jacob Zuma and French arms manufacturer Thales have suffered another legal setback in their efforts to halt the start of their long-running corruption trial.
The Pietermaritzburg High Court on Wednesday dismissed their application for leave to appeal an earlier ruling that refused to acquit them on racketeering and money laundering charges linked to the controversial 1999 arms deal.
Thales had argued that the deaths of several key witnesses would compromise its ability to properly present or challenge evidence during the trial. Zuma supported the application.
The pair have launched multiple legal challenges over the years, repeatedly delaying the trial, which had been scheduled to begin in April last year.
Handing down judgment, Judge Nkosinathi Chili said neither Zuma nor Thales had demonstrated reasonable prospects of success on appeal.
“Having considered all the grounds of appeal relied upon by both Mr Zuma and Thales, I am not persuaded that there are prospects of success on appeal. Neither am I persuaded that there are compelling reasons to grant leave to appeal in these circumstances,” Chili ruled.
“The application for leave to appeal by both Mr Zuma and Thales is dismissed.”
Chili also addressed the State’s request for the trial to proceed despite any outstanding appeals. He noted that a related matter currently before the Supreme Court of Appeal must first be resolved.
The case, Matric Luphondo versus the State, centres on whether trial courts should allow appeals to be heard while proceedings are still underway.
“The crucial issue in Luphondo, which finds resonance in the state’s application, is the question of whether the trial court should permit midstream appeals,” Chili said.
As a result, the matter has been adjourned to April, pending judgment from the higher court — another pause in a case that has already stretched longer than some political careers.