PRETORIA, Gauteng — The highly anticipated Jacob Zuma and Thales arms deal trial is officially scheduled to commence on 1 February 2027, following the withdrawal of the final legal appeals by the accused. The decision to abandon the challenges removes the last procedural hurdles in the long-delayed criminal prosecution regarding the multi-billion rand government arms procurement from the late 1990s.
The withdrawal of the appeals solidifies the ruling by Judge Nkosinathi Chili, effectively locking in the start date for the high-profile corruption case.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago confirmed the development, expressing confidence that the protracted legal maneuvering has finally reached its end. For over two decades, the matter has been subject to continuous legal challenges, which the prosecution has frequently characterized as deliberate delay tactics.
“We have been saying this because this matter has been coming for many, many years—over 15, if not 20 years,” Kganyago stated. He noted that the NPA ultimately petitioned the courts to halt what they termed “Stalingrad tactics.”
The procedural timeline leading to this final resolution has been rigorous. On 14 May, the court ruled that no further interlocutory applications would be permitted to delay the trial. Although indications of further appeals followed, Kganyago confirmed that none materialized. Subsequently, on 26 May, the President of the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) dismissed an application for reconsideration. Finally, on 28 May 2026, the SCA dismissed both Zuma and Thales’ applications for leave to appeal against the dismissal of their stay-of-proceedings application.
With the deadlines to approach the Constitutional Court now elapsed, all interlocutory applications by the defense have been definitively dismissed. The trial has been allocated for the first two quarters of 2027.
Addressing concerns regarding the viability of the state’s case after a 20-year gap, Kganyago dismissed fears that the prosecution’s case was fatally compromised. The defense had previously argued for a stay of proceedings on the grounds that key witnesses had passed away. However, the NPA maintains that the state possesses alternative evidence and surviving witnesses to substantiate the charges.
“While it might be a setback that certain people have died, they are not the only people that we are going to have in front of the court,” Kganyago explained, emphasizing that the prosecution is fully prepared to proceed. He added that the defense had repeatedly requested their “day in court,” which will now be granted on 1 February.
Unrelated Legal Proceedings Continue
In separate legal proceedings, the state is advancing a serious criminal case against former deputy national police commissioner Shadrach Sibiya.
At the Randburg Magistrates’ Court, the state presented a statement from a 16-year-old teenager who alleges she was assaulted by the former police official. Additionally, the court heard that Sabir is accused of raping an 18-year-old woman. The victim’s statement was also formally read into the court record as the case against the ex-cop continues.
