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Thursday 20 May 2021 - 1:40pm
File: Former president Jacob Zuma.
AFP/Pool
JOHANNESBURG -The National Prosecuting Authority has confirmed that former president Jacob Zuma s has officially signed his special plea affidavit in preparation for his trial next week.
Zuma wants senior prosecutor Billy Downer to recuse himself.
The NPA says it will present its response in court but, added that at face value the submission looks like a repeat of old issues that have previously been rejected by the courts.
Downer successfully prosecuted Zuma s former financial advisor Shabir Shaik in 2005.
Arms deal trial: Jacob Zuma files plea for Downer recusal
The NPA said its still studying former president Jacob Zuma’s plea for Billy Downer’s recusal in the arms deal trial
Former president Jacob Zuma’s lawyers have officially filed an affidavit, in which he elaborates on why he wants state prosecutor Billy Downer to recuse himself from the arms deal trial.
The first day of the arms deal trial was Monday, 17 May 2021, at the High Court in Pietermaritzburg, however, proceedings had to be postponed, so as to allow Zuma’s legal team time to tender a plea for Downer’s removal.
Arms deal trial: Jacob Zuma finally has his day in court
Former president Jacob Zuma is said to have pocketed about R1.2 million in bribes from French arms manufacturer Thales
The long-awaited start of former president Jacob Zuma’s corruption trial has been scheduled to get underway on Monday, 17 May 2021, however it seems as if the matter could be delayed yet again.
This after his legal team announced back in April, it had withdrawn its services for the case, which means the matter could be postponed. Given the magnitude of the case, a new legal team would need ample time to go through the necessary documents and get up to speed.
Jacob Zuma’s road to the dock has been a long and convoluted one, and yet, it seems like there’ll be another diversion coming our way on Monday. You can watch the live stream of the event here, but when will the Zuma trial get underway?
What time does the Jacob Zuma trial start?
We’re on course for a 9:00 start. Already, police officials have cleared the precinct at the Pietermaritzburg High Court, in anticipation of public demonstrations in favour of the former president. Law Expert Mannie Witz is convinced that the Zuma trial will face another delay on Monday, given that uBaba is coming into this hearing with no legal representation