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billy downerlatest news & developments
French arms company Thales has lodged an application in the Pietermaritzburg high court for full acquittal in the arms deal case in which it faces corruption and racketeering charges

Arms deal case: Thales files application to have charges dropped

The French arms company says the death of two key defence witnesses has hurt its case

Former president Jacob Zuma in the Pietermaritzburg High Court.  (Rogan Ward/AFP)

Trial judge explains why Zuma’s tilt at Downer is doomed

The former president will proceed to seek leave to appeal, potentially delaying his arms deal trial further

Former president Jacob Zuma. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy/M&G

Court to grant Zuma’s request for reasons for dismissing bid to dislodge Downer

The state had pleaded with Judge Nkosinathi Chili to dismiss the application and set a trial date in the arms deal corruption case against the former president

Former South African president, Jacob Zuma. (SIMON MAINA/AFP via Getty Images)

Zuma arms deal trial date set for 2025

The trial is scheduled to begin in April next year, nearly two decades after the former president was first charged for taking bribes from a French arms dealer This content is…

Former president Jacob Zuma. File photo

Jacob Zuma approaches Concourt in bid to revive private prosecution of Billy Downer

The former president has approached the apex court for leave to appeal the striking down of his bid to charge the prosecutor in his arms deal case

Former president Jacob Zuma Photo: Mlungisi Louw/Getty Images

High court strikes Zuma’s private prosecution of Downer off the roll

Judge Nkosinathi Chili said Zuma would not be prejudiced if the matter is removed from the roll pending his bid to appeal the invalidation of the private prosecution This content…

Former president Jacob Zuma Photo: Mlungisi Louw/Getty Images

Zuma’s bid to force Downer’s removal dismissed

The state’s bid to have a trial date set was stymied by Zuma’s counsel signalling that he was seeking leave to appeal This content is restricted to registered users and…

Chief Justice Raymond Zondo

Zondo says remission is not a reason to stop Zuma trial

The prosecuting authority should proceed according to the evidence, regardless of a perceived reluctance on government’s part to jail the former president

Former president Jacob Zuma Photo: Mlungisi Louw/Getty Images

Corruption charges or not, ANC in the kingdom pins election campaign on Zuma. Again.

The party’s braai stand betrayal is forgiven as uBaba is brought in to rescue the party

Former South African President Jacob Zuma. (Photo by Themba Hadebe / POOL / AFP)

Zuma blames Stalingrad on the media

The National Prosecuting Authority countered that the courts had confirmed the former president’s line of defence in the arms deal trial deserved this epithet

Former president Jacob Zuma in the Pietermaritzburg High Court.  (Rogan Ward/AFP)

Downer says Zuma’s latest attack on him is a repeat of past ones

The former president is again seeking the prosecutor’s removal from the arms deal trial, in doing so reviving old claims he leaked information to the media

Former president Jacob Zuma Photo: Mlungisi Louw/Getty Images

SCA dismisses Zuma’s bid to pursue private prosecution

The court said the former president’s application was part of continuing Stalingrad tactics

Former president Jacob Zuma in the Pietermaritzburg High Court.  (Rogan Ward/AFP)

‘It is not for Zuma to decide who should prosecute him,’ says advocate Geoff Budlender

Jacob Zuma’s lawyer, Dali Mpofu said the former president’s criminal trial would not proceed soon, because he would again ask for the removal of state prosecutor Billy Downer

Former president Jacob Zuma. File photo

High court denies Zuma leave to appeal against Ramaphosa

The former president sought to challenge the court’s finding that his private prosecution of the president was unlawful and invalid

Abusive: Ever since 2007, when he was indicted on charges linked to the 1990s arms deal, Jacob Zuma has appeared in court regularly. One such appearance was on 26 May 2021 (above) in the Pietermaritzburg high court where pleaded not guilty to fraud, corruption, racketeering and money-laundering. (Phill Magakoe/Getty Images)

The price South Africa pays for Zuma’s freedom

The former president is probably correct in believing he will never serve another day in prison but he has shaken faith in the justice system

Former president Jacob Zuma. Photo: Supplied

Zuma’s private prosecution of Ramaphosa ruled unlawful

The high court found that Zuma’s bid to criminally charge his successor was tainted by ulterior purpose and an abuse of process

Former president Jacob Zuma. (Photo by Jerome Delay / POOL / AFP)

High court halts Zuma’s prosecution of Downer and Maughan

The former president came to court with ‘unclean hands’, a full bench found

Indefatigable: Former president Jacob Zuma seems to be hoping for a defeat of his adversaries in the party he may or may not still be a part of.

Zuma’s summons of Ramaphosa has never had foundation, says president’s lawyer

The summons was based on a certificate that gave the former president no cover to pursue a private prosecution against his successor

President Cyril Ramaphosa and former president, Jacob Zuma. File photo: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Ramaphosa says Zuma’s private prosecution is political harassment

The president is seeking a final interdict preventing his predecessor from pursuing such a step “now or in future”

Former president Jacob Zuma. File photo: Jerome Delay/AFP

ANC in KwaZulu-Natal used Zuma and then discarded him, says Niehaus

The provincial leaders used Zuma’s popularity to further their political careers, according to expelled cadre Carl Niehaus