Zuma corruption trial postponed

A South African court in Pietermaritzburg gave prosecutors until early September to make their case for more time to prepare corruption charges against Jacob Zuma after lawyers for the would-be-president argued the most explosive case since apartheid should be thrown out.

The case, which coincides with another trial of politicians accused in a travel scam, has focussed the spotlight on government graft.

Zuma emerged triumphant after his two-hour appearance to address several thousand adoring fans.

Scenes outside the High Court in the south-eastern town resembled a campaign rally for the 64-year-old former guerrilla leader, who was President Thabo Mbeki’s heir apparent until he was fired last year amid allegations he accepted bribes to blunt investigations into a 1999 arms deal.

Zuma’s supporters within the governing African National Congress and its trade union and Communist Party allies insist Zuma is the victim of a political plot to deny him the presidency.