Downer urges Thales, Zuma trial to proceed amid appeals
The State plans to apply for the trial in the corruption case against Jacob Zuma and Thales to proceed, even if there are outstanding appeals.
On Tuesday, the Pietermaritzburg High Court dismissed an application by the French arms company and the former president to have the charges dropped.
They had argued that some key witnesses have since died, meaning their evidence cannot be presented or challenged in court.
Senior State Prosecutor Billy Downer then asked for the trial to resume on 21 July and run until 19 September, dates that were set down last year.
Judge Nkosinathi Chili raised the issue of outstanding appeals in the case.
An application for leave to appeal the judgment in Zuma's case to have Downer removed at the Supreme Court, and the possibility that Tuesday's ruling may be appealed.
"There are these applications, and the presence of these applications means we are not in a position to settle on a return for trial in July.
Downer said: "The State would want that to proceed. The State would need to argue that in a formal application, we've got to the stage on this trial. A trial date was set in May 2024. We now in June 2025, it's more than a year later. The interest of justice requires that the matter proceed to trial."
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