Former president Jacob Zuma finally goes on trial for corruption, racketeering and money laundering in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Tuesday, October 15th in connection with the country’s multi-billion rand arms deal.
All eyes will be glued on Msholozi as he stands in the dock, while his supporters are busy preparing to organise transport to the venue.
According to the Sunday Tribune, his family said Zuma is still facing the kind of treatment he encountered under the apartheid regime.
Zuma’s nephew Inkosi Simphiwe, his brother Khaya and his eldest son Edward said they were not amazed by the ruling, alleging “there is a concerted effort to destroy anything with Zuma’s name on it”.
Khaya who lives in Nkandla next to Zuma’s infamous compound said this meant his brother would always be in court and that even under the apartheid government he was prosecuted and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
” I hate the courts.Umfethu(brother) was subjected to the same treatment by the apartheid regime.
“It seems nothing has changed for him. He had endured so much pain, criticism and hatred by his comrades,” he said according to the Sunday Tribune.
His trial goes ahead after a full bench of the high court on Friday dismissed with costs an appeal by the former president and his co-accused, French arms company Thales, for stay permanent stay of prosecution.
The ruling on Friday came 15 years to the day that his former Durban based financial adviser Schabir Shaik went on trial for his role in soliciting a bribe for Msholozi from Thales.
Shaik was found guilty and convicted to 15 years in jail but was eventually released for medical parole.
Political parties hailed Zuma’s impending trial as a colossal breakthrough, while the Zuma family criticised it as a ” continuation of conspiracy, political prosecution and a ploy to destroy Zuma ‘s legacy and his image”.
Edward Zuma his eldest son said the court’s decision was evidence of the concerted effort to tarnish his father’s “good” name.
“We know the enemies and, sadly, it is people who are comrades from the same organisation that the former president belongs to. However, we are not disturbed by the court’s decision.
“They ‘ve got the judiciary on their side and are coming out guns blazing after everything that has to do with Zuma,” said Edward.
Zuma was also expected to appear before the Zondo commission for a second time later this month.
