Zuma trial decision postponed until September
Tuesday, 05 Aug 2008 20:01
Jacob Zuma will find out next month whether he will go on trial
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A judge has said he will rule on whether the head of South
Africa's ruling party, Jacob Zuma, is to face corruption charges next month.
The African National Congress (ANC) leader is accused of corruption, fraud, racketeering and money-laundering over an arms deal.
Today, Judge Chris Nicholson said he would decide on whether the trial will go ahead in September.
He also set December 8th as a provisional date for the trial.
Mr Zuma, 66, has previously said he will stand down as ANC leader if he is found guilty, preventing him from becoming the country's next president.
As they did yesterday, supporters of the popular politician gathered outside the court in Pietermaritzburg to protest against the potential trial.
His legal team have asked the court to dismiss the charges which are part of a wider investigation into the country's biggest-ever arms deal in 1999.
Critics claim Mr Zuma is simply trying to delay proceedings until he is made president.
The 66-year-old defeated incumbent president Thabo Mbeki in December to become leader of the ANC.
Corruption has long hung over Mr Zuma during his political career.
In 2005 he was sacked as South Africa's deputy president when his financial adviser was found guilty of soliciting a bribe on his behalf.
His subsequent trial collapsed the following year after the prosecution declared it was not ready to proceed.
In February 2006, Mr Zuma was acquitted of rape after admitting during the trial that he had slept with an HIV-positive family friend.