Pietermaritzburg, South Africa – The high-profile corruption case against former President Jacob Zuma and French arms company Thales returned to the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Tuesday, with both accused seeking acquittal due to the deaths of key witnesses.
Judge Nkosinathi Chili is considering applications from Thales and Zuma’s legal teams, who argue that the unavailability of crucial witnesses—former Thales South Africa directors Pierre Moynot and Alain Thetard—has irreparably harmed their ability to mount a defense.
Moynot, who served as Thales’ director in the 1990s, died in early 2021 at 76, while Thetard, his successor, passed away in 2022 at 74. Both were central to the state’s case, which alleges that Thales, through Zuma’s former financial advisor Schabir Shaik, agreed in 2000 to pay Zuma an annual bribe in exchange for political protection during investigations into South Africa’s controversial 1999 arms deal. Thales had secured a contract to supply combat systems for the country’s new corvettes.
Defense: Case “Unfair” Without Key Witnesses
Thales’ legal team argued that the deaths of Moynot and Thetard prevent them from challenging state witnesses, particularly regarding racketeering charges. Similarly, Zuma’s advocate, Dali Mpofu, contended that Thetard’s testimony was vital to disputing an encrypted fax—allegedly written by Thetard—that purportedly documented the bribe agreement.
Mpofu also argued that separating Zuma’s case from Thales’ would be impossible under the racketeering charges.
State Opposes Acquittal, Points to Alternatives
Prosecutors opposed the applications, insisting that other witnesses could provide relevant testimony and offering to admit the court record from Shaik’s 2004 corruption trial as evidence. Shaik was convicted for facilitating bribes to Zuma but was later released on medical parole.
Case Background
Zuma and Thales face charges of corruption, fraud, racketeering, and money laundering linked to the arms deal. The case has dragged on for years, with Zuma’s legal team repeatedly pursuing delays.
Judge Chili has yet to rule on the applications, setting Tuesday as a holding date while deliberations continue. The outcome could determine whether the long-delayed trial proceeds or collapses due to the absence of pivotal witnesses.