…By Roland Peterson for TDPel Media.
Jacob Zuma, the former President of South Africa, did not appear in court for his arms deal corruption trial at the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
The spokesperson for the Jacob Zuma Foundation, Mzwanele Manyi, addressed the media and cited a recent medical emergency as the reason for Zuma’s absence.
Advocate Dali Mpofu, a member of Zuma’s legal council, confirmed the medical emergency during the court proceedings.
Charges Against Jacob Zuma in the Arms Deal Corruption Case
Zuma faces 16 charges, including fraud, graft, and racketeering, relating to a 1999 arms deal.
The deal involved the purchase of fighter jets, patrol boats, and military equipment from five European arms companies for 30 billion rand, equivalent to nearly $5 billion at the time.
He is specifically accused of accepting four million rand in bribes from the French defense giant Thales.
Mzwanele Manyi Set to Become a Member of Parliament for EFF
Mzwanele Manyi, the spokesperson for the Jacob Zuma Foundation, is on the verge of being sworn in as a member of parliament.
A month after announcing his affiliation with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) as a rank-and-file party member, Manyi’s inclusion in the EFF’s list of candidates to be sworn in as Members of Parliament (MPs) was published in a government gazette.
Manyi had previously left the African Transformation Movement (ATM) to join the EFF, with the aim of contributing to South Africa’s liberation from neo-colonialism and widespread corruption.
Manyi’s Motivation for Joining the EFF
Manyi expressed his concerns about the deteriorating state of South Africa and highlighted the need for a revolutionary organization to address the country’s challenges.
He believed that the EFF, as the third-largest party in South Africa, had the potential to replace the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and become the real alternative that the nation needed.
Manyi emphasized the urgency of rescuing South Africa from its current trajectory towards a failed state.
Conclusion:
Former President Jacob Zuma’s absence from his arms deal corruption trial due to a medical emergency has been explained by his spokesperson, Mzwanele Manyi.
The charges against Zuma relate to a 1999 arms deal involving several European arms firms.
Meanwhile, Manyi, who recently joined the EFF, is set to become a member of parliament, aiming to contribute to South Africa’s fight against corruption and neo-colonialism.