By: Kaya 959 News
Former State President Jacob Zuma’s legal team is expected to ask for the Pietermaritzburg High Court to postpone the arms deal court case.
Zuma was due to appear in court today, however, he remains in hospital.
Zuma is accused of taking bribes from French company, Thales, over a multi-billion dollar arms deal between 1999 until 2005.
On Friday, Department of Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said Zuma was taken to an offsite facility for medical observation.
Zuma is currently serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of court at the Estcourt Correctional Centre.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Advocate Mthunzi Mhaga, confirmed that Zuma’s legal team will make a substantive application for the postponement virtually.
“It’s unfortunate that there will be a postponement as our team is ready to argue the special plea as planned but these are circumstances beyond our control,” Mhaga said.
Judge Piet Koen has requested that Zuma’s legal team file an affidavit by a medical doctor.
READ: Jacob Zuma admitted to hospital for ‘medical observation’
Koen said if, on the postponed date, Zuma applies for a further postponement, his application shall be supported by the viva voce [oral] evidence of a medical practitioner treating him, who may be cross-examined by the State.
Koen said at this point, the State may adduce rebutting viva voce evidence, either there and then, or at an adjourned hearing.
Today’s hearing was for the court to hear a special application to have Prosecutor Billy Downer removed from the case. Zuma further believes that the case should be dismissed.
The #FreeJacobZuma campaign has meanwhile decided not to gather outside the court.
READ: Celebrities who support Jacob Zuma
Campaign spokesperson, Carl Niehaus, said they will await the outcome of the hearing to announce their plans for a peaceful and lawful gathering.
“The postponement does not postpone or impact on other peaceful and lawful protest activities that may be planned by various organisations and groupings in support of the immediate release of President Zuma, at different times and locations throughout the country,” Niehaus said.
READ: From ConCourt to Estcourt, Jacob Zuma hands himself over to police



