Zuma's lawyers to seek postponement in corruption trail
The Jacob Zuma Foundation says the former president will make his first public appearance since his incarceration when his corruption trial resumes at the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Monday morning.
On Friday, the office of the Chief Justice confirmed that the court proceedings of the arms deal trial would continue virtually at 10am.
Zuma's trial continues despite the violent protests that erupted in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng days after he was sent to an Estcourt prison to serve 15 months for violating a constitutional court order by refusing to appear before the commission of inquiry into state capture.
Zuma faces 16 charges of fraud, corruption and racketeering, amongst others in connection with the multi-billion rand arms deal with co-accused of French arms company Thales.
Both Zuma and the French company have pleaded not guilty to all charges placed against them.
READ: Zuma corruption trial to resume despite deadly protests
The foundation's spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi says they're concerned by the court's directives.
"If the court is able to hear the on Monday, then no problem the lawyers are ready to this thing to do it physically and the lawyers are saying if the reason is advanced y the NPA or the judge has to do with the turmoil in the country, we are saying we hope that within a week a so the turmoil would have died down.
"So all the reasons that would have prevented lawyers from being in Pietermaritzburg in person whereby in a week's time those reasons will not be there so, therefore, the matter can move to next week when the situation is calmer.
"The only reason we would seek postponement is because we want the rule of law to apply. We want the constitution to be observed. We want the criminal procedure act to be observed. That's all we want.”
