Pretoria – Former President Jacob Zuma and French arms company Thales have suffered a major legal setback after the Pietermaritzburg High Court ruled that their long-delayed corruption trial will proceed.
The court dismissed their application for leave to appeal an earlier ruling that rejected their bid to have the charges dropped.
Judge Nkosinathi Chili said Zuma and Thales failed to show another court would reach a different conclusion.
“Both Mr Zuma and Thales conceded that this court was correct in concluding that the relief sought…was incompetent.
It is, therefore, not necessary to delay at this point,” he said. The judge also noted that Thales was driving the legal application, and if its case fails, Zuma’s would fail as well.
[WATCH] Pietermaritzburg High Court judge Nkosinathi Chili delivers the ruling on whether he will grant former president Jacob Zuma and his co-accused French arms company, Thales, leave to appeal his earlier decision dismissing their application for acquittal. #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/OWnEIix0dX
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) February 4, 2026
Zuma and Thales had sought a permanent stay of prosecution, claiming that prolonged delays and the deaths of two key Thales directors — Pierre Moynot (January 2021) and Alain Thétard (September 2022) — had compromised their right to a fair trial.
Judge Chili found the trial court would be best placed to assess any alleged prejudice during proceedings.
The charges relate to racketeering, corruption, fraud, and money laundering tied to the controversial 1990s multi-billion-rand arms deal.
The state alleges that Zuma received bribes from Thales via his former financial advisor, Schabir Shaik, in exchange for political protection during an arms deal inquiry.
The matter has been adjourned to 24 April 2026 to give judgment on the state’s application and to set a trial date, moving the decades-old arms deal case closer to trial.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, X and Instagram
Picture: X/@Sli_Masikane
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
