Il Nuovo Postiglione - South Africa court clears way for Zuma's arms graft trial

The case stems from a 1990s $2 billion arms deal to purchase fighter jets, patrol boats and other military equipment from five European defence companies.

Zuma is accused of taking bribes from Thales in exchange for protecting the firm from an investigation into the deal, when he was deputy president.

The case has dragged due to judicial and prosecutorial recusals and other procedural challenges in what has become known as "Stop Stalingrad", in reference to a tactic aimed at wearing down proceeding through constant appeals.

Sitting in the High Court in the southeastern city of Pietermaritzburg, judge Nkosinathi Chili said the "interests of justice" demanded that the case proceed.

"Without this court's intervention, there is a likelihood of grave injustice or the administration of justice being brought into disrepute," he ruled.

He said there would be no "cognisable harm or grave injustice" if a trial went ahead.

Zuma, 84, was not present for the judgement. A trial date has yet to be set.

Thales, formerly known as Thomson-CSF, and Zuma face more than a dozen charges of fraud, corruption and racketeering. They deny any wrongdoing.

Once dubbed the "Teflon president", Zuma led South Africa from 2009 until 2018, when the ruling African National Congress (ANC) forced him out as graft scandals engulfed his government.

He is separately accused of enabling the looting of state assets during his tenure.

In 2021, Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in jail after refusing to testify to a panel probing financial corruption and cronyism under his presidency.

He was freed on medical parole two months into his term.

The jailing sparked protests, riots and looting that left more than 350 dead, in South Africa's worst violence since its first democratic election in 1994.

M.Lombardi--INP