The Former President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, appeared in court on Wednesday, for charges of corruption, fraud, racketeering and money laundering, relating to a $2billion arms deal when he was deputy president.

Zuma was slammed 18-count charges, from 2009—2018, since he became president, in relation to the 1999 deal. He rejected the charges, saying he is the victim of a political motivated witch hunt, by a rival faction of the ruling African National Congress.

Zuma who also faces a separate inquiry into corruption during his time as president, is accused of accepting 500,000 rand ($34, 000) annually, from Thales, in exchange for protecting the company from an investigation into the deal.

“I plead not guilty, he said, stating into the space after the Prosecutor read out all the charges.

Zuma’s defence team, however, called for the rescusal of state Prosecutor, Billy Downer, on the grounds that he has “no(thing), little to prosecute”. The prosecution requested more time to make a response call. In that regard, the presiding judge adjourned the case until July 19, 2021.

According to Aljazera reporter from Johannesburg, “Jacob Zuma is arguing that the lead Prosecutor is not impartial, is not independent, and this would jeopardize the prospect of a fair trial.

They added that, South Africans were bracing for, “a very lengthy process, one that is likely to to take months, if not years”.

The suit filed more than a decade ago, by the National Prosecuting Authority, against Zuma, was set aside, just before he successfully ran for president in 2019; then reinstated them a month after he resigned early 2018.

Jacob Zuma, also pleaded ‘not guilty,’ to the racketeering corruption and money laundering charges the company, Thales faced.

Ijeoma Njoku reporting, Obinwannem News | May 26, 2021