Warrant for the Arrest of former South African President Issued

An arrest warrant for the arrest of former South African president Jacob Zuma has been issued by a South African High Court presided over by Judge Dhaya Pillay. She said she was left with no choice but to issue former President Jacob Zuma with an arrest warrant.

This is because the former president failed to show up in court today for the pre-trial of proceedings related to his long-running corruption case. Though the former president’s legal team said he was receiving medical care outside the country, and even submitted a document as evidence of his illness, the Judge was skeptical of the document, calling it “puzzling” and questioning if it was even signed by a medical doctor. “What this court requires is evidence. Some authentic, reliable proof that Mr. Zuma is indeed ill and when he will be available to stand trial,” said Pillay in her ruling. Pillay suspended the warrant until May 6th, the next date Zuma will be required to appear in court. 

Jacob Zuma is on trial for corruption charges accusing him of multiple counts of fraud, racketeering and money laundering related to a controversial 1999 multi-billion dollar arms deal, though Zuma maintains he is innocent of all charges. He was formally charged in April 2018, barely two months after his own party, the ruling African National Congress forced him to resign office.

Watch the live report by SABC News below: