Former South African president Jacob Zuma will hear in three months' time whether corruption, racketeering and money laundering charges against him might be dropped.
Pietermaritzburg High Court judges have reserved judgment on his application for a permanent stay of prosecution. No date was announced.
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Former South African president Jacob Zuma will hear in three months' time whether corruption, racketeering and money laundering charges against him might be dropped.
Public frustration over government corruption contributed to the ANC's weakest-ever election showing earlier this month, and current President Cyril Ramaphosa has apologized and vowed to crack down .
Zuma's legal team asserts that his case has been prejudiced by long delays in bringing it to court and that he will not receive a fair trial. Zuma also asserts there has been political interference in his prosecution.
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Former South African President Jacob Zuma addresses supporters after appearing at the High Court in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Friday May 24, 2019. Zuma is in court facing charges of corruption, money laundering and racketeering. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe)
Former South African President Jacob Zuma gestures, in the High Court in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Friday, May 24, 2019. Zuma is in court facing charges of corruption, money laundering and racketeering. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe, Pool)
Former South African President Jacob Zuma, in the High Court in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Friday, May 24, 2019. Zuma is in court facing charges of corruption, money laundering and racketeering. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe, Pool)
Former South African President Jacob Zuma, right, speaks with members of his legal team in the High Court in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Friday, May 24, 2019. Zuma is in court facing charges of corruption, money laundering and racketeering. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe, Pool)
Former South African President Jacob Zuma, in the High Court in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Friday, May 24, 2019. Zuma is in court facing charges of corruption, money laundering and racketeering. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe, Pool)
Former South African President Jacob Zuma smiles, in the High Court in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Friday, May 24, 2019. Zuma is in court facing charges of corruption, money laundering and racketeering. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe, Pool)
Zuma was president from 2009 until 2018, when his ruling African National Congress party forced him to resign amid persistent corruption allegations. The scandal was seen as damaging the reputation of the ANC, which has been in power since the end of the harsh system of apartheid in 1994.
Supporters of the former South African President Jacob Zuma wait for him to address them outside the High Court in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Friday May 24, 2019. Zuma is in court facing charges of corruption, money laundering and racketeering. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe)
Public frustration over government corruption contributed to the ANC's weakest-ever election showing earlier this month, and current President Cyril Ramaphosa has apologized and vowed to crack down .
The scandals also have damaged confidence in South Africa's economy, the most developed in sub-Saharan Africa.
Zuma is accused of receiving bribes related to a 1999 arms deal. The charges were raised more than a decade ago and later withdrawn, then reinstated after a court ruled there were sufficient grounds to bring him to trial.
Former South African President Jacob Zuma sits in the High Court in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Friday, May 24, 2019. Zuma is in court facing charges of corruption, money laundering and racketeering. (PhotoThuli Dlamini - Pool via AP)
Zuma's legal team asserts that his case has been prejudiced by long delays in bringing it to court and that he will not receive a fair trial. Zuma also asserts there has been political interference in his prosecution.
The prosecution told the court that Zuma's legal maneuvering caused the delays and that there are no justifiable reasons to halt his prosecution.
In an appearance outside court, a defiant Zuma told supporters that his rights were being trampled. "They say I am corrupt, but up until today nobody can show what I have stolen," he said.
Former South African President Jacob Zuma gestures, in the High Court in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Friday, May 24, 2019. Zuma is in court facing charges of corruption, money laundering and racketeering. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe, Pool)
Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_Africa
Supporters of the former South African President Jacob Zuma react as he addresses them outside the High Court in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Friday May 24, 2019. Zuma is in court facing charges of corruption, money laundering and racketeering. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe)
Former South African President Jacob Zuma addresses supporters after appearing at the High Court in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Friday May 24, 2019. Zuma is in court facing charges of corruption, money laundering and racketeering. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe)
Former South African President Jacob Zuma gestures, in the High Court in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Friday, May 24, 2019. Zuma is in court facing charges of corruption, money laundering and racketeering. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe, Pool)
Former South African President Jacob Zuma, in the High Court in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Friday, May 24, 2019. Zuma is in court facing charges of corruption, money laundering and racketeering. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe, Pool)
Former South African President Jacob Zuma, right, speaks with members of his legal team in the High Court in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Friday, May 24, 2019. Zuma is in court facing charges of corruption, money laundering and racketeering. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe, Pool)
Former South African President Jacob Zuma, in the High Court in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Friday, May 24, 2019. Zuma is in court facing charges of corruption, money laundering and racketeering. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe, Pool)
Former South African President Jacob Zuma smiles, in the High Court in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Friday, May 24, 2019. Zuma is in court facing charges of corruption, money laundering and racketeering. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe, Pool)