This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-43658953
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| South Africa ex-President Jacob Zuma charged with corruption | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| South Africa's former President Jacob Zuma has been charged with corruption linked to a 1990s arms deal. | |
| After the 75-year-old's 15-minute appearance at the High Court in Durban on Friday morning, the case was adjourned until 8 June. | |
| He faces 16 counts of corruption, racketeering, fraud and money laundering, which dogged his presidency and were reinstated in 2016. | |
| Mr Zuma, who was forced out of office in February, denies any wrongdoing. | |
| His supporters descended on the city to rally for him, while his critics think court action is long overdue. | |
| Mr Zuma smiled and gave a thumbs up to the crowd as he arrived at the court in his home province on Friday. | |
| The BBC's Andrew Harding said the former president appearing in a dock on corruption charges was "hugely symbolic" for South Africa's young democracy. | |
| Many, he reports, see it as an era of impunity coming to an end. | |
| Mr Zuma and his legal team insist the charges are trumped up and politically motivated. | Mr Zuma and his legal team insist the charges are trumped up and politically motivated. |
| What was the arms deal? | What was the arms deal? |
| Mr Zuma was deputy president at the time of the decades-old arms deal. | Mr Zuma was deputy president at the time of the decades-old arms deal. |
| He is accused of accepting bribes from French arms firm Thales via his financial adviser at the time. | He is accused of accepting bribes from French arms firm Thales via his financial adviser at the time. |
| The adviser, Schabir Shaikh, was found guilty of trying to solicit the bribes and was jailed in 2005. | The adviser, Schabir Shaikh, was found guilty of trying to solicit the bribes and was jailed in 2005. |
| The case against Mr Zuma was dropped shortly before he ran for president in 2009. | The case against Mr Zuma was dropped shortly before he ran for president in 2009. |
| The mood in Durban | The mood in Durban |
| By Pumza Fihlani, BBC News, Durban | By Pumza Fihlani, BBC News, Durban |
| Downtown Durban is a hive of activity - as the province's beloved Jacob Zuma once again steps into the spotlight - once again courting controversy. | Downtown Durban is a hive of activity - as the province's beloved Jacob Zuma once again steps into the spotlight - once again courting controversy. |
| Some of the roads around the grand court building have been cordoned off, a large stage has been erected by Mr Zuma's supporters a few metres from the courthouse - they are hoping he will use it to address them after the proceedings. | Some of the roads around the grand court building have been cordoned off, a large stage has been erected by Mr Zuma's supporters a few metres from the courthouse - they are hoping he will use it to address them after the proceedings. |
| Meanwhile, hundreds of police officers are standing guard. | |
| The last time Mr Zuma was in court for a trial was more than 10 years ago on rape charges - he denied the allegations and the case was later dropped. Back then, thousands came to support him including members of his own ANC party. | The last time Mr Zuma was in court for a trial was more than 10 years ago on rape charges - he denied the allegations and the case was later dropped. Back then, thousands came to support him including members of his own ANC party. |
| This time around the party led by the new president Cyril Ramaphosa is keen to distance itself from the controversy as the party prepares to contest the national elections in a year's time. Mr Ramaphosa came in on a ticket of clean governance and his party cannot afford another scandal, but for the people here Mr Zuma remains a hero, a man who brought development to forgotten corners of this vast and largely rural province. | This time around the party led by the new president Cyril Ramaphosa is keen to distance itself from the controversy as the party prepares to contest the national elections in a year's time. Mr Ramaphosa came in on a ticket of clean governance and his party cannot afford another scandal, but for the people here Mr Zuma remains a hero, a man who brought development to forgotten corners of this vast and largely rural province. |
| Mr Zuma's opponents had long fought for him to be charged over the 1990s bribes. | |
| The charges were reinstated in 2016 as his grip on the ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), weakened. | |
| Intense pressure from the ANC led to the former president resigning two months ago. He had been told to step down or face a vote of no-confidence in parliament. | Intense pressure from the ANC led to the former president resigning two months ago. He had been told to step down or face a vote of no-confidence in parliament. |
| Mr Zuma's remaining supporters argue that he is being targeted for backing a radical economic reform agenda. | Mr Zuma's remaining supporters argue that he is being targeted for backing a radical economic reform agenda. |
| A battle is also brewing over whether the state should keep paying his legal bills. | A battle is also brewing over whether the state should keep paying his legal bills. |