Jacob Zuma, former South African President, will return to the High Court in Pietermaritzburg today, where he will face trial over corruption charges. In the case, Zuma entered a plea of not guilty which involved allegations of bribery, fraud, and racketeering connected to a major arms deal in the late 1990s.
He is accused of taking bribes from French arms company Thales, which was awarded a contract to supply South Africa with military hardware in 1999, while Zuma was deputy president. The deal was valued at around $5 billion and it involved the purchase of fighter jets, submarines, and warships. Zuma has however denied any wrongdoing and has entered a plea of not guilty.
Controversy and investigation have trailed the arms deal in South Africa for many years. In 2011, an official inquiry discovered evidence of widespread corruption and recommended that many individuals, including Zuma, face criminal charges. As of that time, Zuma was able to avoid prosecution for many years owing to legal challenges and political manoeuvring.
The trial is viewed as a major test for the legal system of South Africa, as well as for its efforts to combat corruption and strengthen the rule of law. Zuma remains a well-known figure among many South Africans, especially within his own political party, the African National Congress (ANC), a party that has been in power since the end of apartheid in 1994.
He has faced many legal challenges in recent years which include multiple corruption investigations and a separate case connected to his alleged role in a state capture scandal. Despite these controversies, he is still a popular figure among many South Africans, particularly in his own political party. The trial has been delayed several times and is expected to last several months.
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