afrol News, 4 February - The South Africa's ruling party president Jacob Zuma's corruption trial has been postponed to 25 August, the High Court ruled today. The ruling gives Mr Zuma, a runner to become the nation's next president, a chance to contest elections, which are expected mid April.

African National Congress leader who is accused of accepting bribes estimated at R4.07 million ($407,000) from a French arms company that won a contract in a controversial multibillion-dollar arms deal is also is facing charges of money laundering, racketeering and fraud.

"Criminal proceedings will be adjourned to a provisional date of 25 Augusts," court papers circulated by the National Prosecuting Authority after a hearing in the eastern town of Pietermaritzburg said.

Mr Zuma has however instituted a separate plea in the Constitutional Court, the country's highest court, aiming at having the charges scrapped on the grounds that proper procedures weren't followed. If that appeal succeeds, the High Court case will no proceed.

Mr Zuma who has been under investigation since 2001 told his supporters outside the court that if he quits, it would be like admitting guilt. If he wins the presidency in this year's election, Mr Zuma could be the first president to stand in a criminal trial while holding the highest office of state.

Earlier last month, the Supreme Court of Appeal reinstated and validated charges against Mr Zuma which were scrapped last year on allegation that the former south African President Thabo Mbeki had a political vendetta against Mr Zuma.

"We have consistently argued and continue to believe that political meddling is at the heart of this case," the party's Secretary General Gwede Mantashe said, vowing to exhaust all legal avenues to ensure that the party's president is freed.

In 2005, Mr Zuma was sacked as South Africa's deputy president when his financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, was found guilty of soliciting a bribe on behalf of Mr Zuma and jailed for 15 years in connection with the arms deal saga.

Mr Zuma defeated former President Mbeki for the party's top job in December 2007. Mr Mbeki was sacked as the country's president in September last year after being accused of meddling in Mr Zuma's case.

The move brought about a major change in South African politics, with Mr Mbeki's supporters defecting from the country's biggest political party and forming their own party, with ANC Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, the party's moderate candidate sworn in as head of the country.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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