Family members of former president Jacob Zuma of South Africa have appealed to the courts where he is facing criminal charges relating to alleged corruption in a 1999 Arms Deal to “let the old man rest”.
Joseph Zuma, who represents the family, while speaking in the wake of yet another court postponement, said “We cannot wait until these cases are over. We are really tired. He is tired. These cases never end. Let him rest. When will it end?” he said.
The former head of state was at his rural homestead of KwaDakwadunuse in Nkandla, when his corruption trial was postponed until August 1 at the Pietermaritzburg high court on Tuesday.
A Spokesperson for the Jacob G Zuma Foundation Mzwanele Manyi said that Zuma was not required to physically appear in court today, and added that even on the August 1 date, the trial Judge Piet Koen has excused Zuma from appearing physically.
Manyi while speaking also frowned at the manner the National Prosecuting Authority -NPA is handling the case and added that they are very disturbed at the Stalingrad tactics of the court and asked it to follow through with a certificate confirming their stance so it will be able to kickstart the private prosecution.
He also spoke about the crowdfunding initiative established at the end of August 2021 to help Zuma pay for his mounting legal woes, he said he does not have the account details to be able to give accurate information of how it stands.
Manyi, however, called on South Africans to continue to donate funds to support Zuma to offset the escalating legal bills which are said to be running into millions of Rands.
Jacob Zuma’s lingering Arms Deal corruption case charged with two counts of corruption, one count each of racketeering and money laundering, and twelve counts of fraud, all arising from his receipt of 783 payments which the state alleges were bribes from businessman Schabir Shaik and French arms company Thales
The Arms Deal, a major defense procurement package, was signed shortly after Zuma was appointed deputy president in 1999, and both Shaik and Thales had financial interests in the underlying contracts. By 2003, Zuma was one of several South African politicians rumored to have benefited improperly from the deal, and these rumors appeared to receive substantiation during Shaik’s criminal trial.
