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Legal analyst Reitumetse Phiri has criticized former President Jacob Zuma for his continuous efforts to delay the start of his arms deal corruption trial.
Zuma and French arms manufacturer Thales are scheduled to appear in the Pietermaritzburg High Court this week.
Phiri believes that this strategy has been used repeatedly.
“This strategy is clear now, the Supreme Court of Appeal referred to it as the stalingrad strategy. In the judgment we received regarding the appeal in the case of [journalist] Karyn Maughan and [advocate] Billy Downer, the SCA made it clear that there have been numerous instances where Zuma has tried to delay his criminal trial through applications like this one.”
“Whatever applications Zuma may be making, they are solely aimed at delaying the start of his trial and nothing else,” explains Phiri.
Below is the full interview with Reitumetse Phiri
In September, Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, who represents Maughan, argued at the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein that Zuma is manipulating the justice system.
Ngcukaitobi contended that the tactical litigation employed by Zuma in his criminal cases should not be entertained by the SCA.
Advocate Ngcukaitobi stated that the SCA should protect the administration of justice by dismissing Zuma’s application with costs.
He argued that there are no prospects for success in the appeal and that Zuma’s prosecution of Maughan is an abuse of the law.
