South Africa’s former president, Jacob Zuma, said graft charges against him were “politically motivated” after he appeared in court on Friday over a multi-billion-dollar arms deal in the 1990s.
“I am innocent till proven guilty, but there are people who want to treat me like I am guilty,” Mr Zuma told cheering supporters outside the Durban High Court after the case was adjourned following a 15-minute preliminary hearing.
The former president appeared before the high court in Durban on Friday in a case where he is accused of corruption in a $2.5 billion arms deal.
High Court Judge Themba Sishi, however adjourned the hearing to the 8th of June.
Zuma’s legal team and lawyers for the state agreed to the postponement to give both sides time to prepare their submissions relating to the charges.
Zuma faces 16 charges of fraud, corruption and racketeering related to the arms deal in the 1990s. He is accused of accepting bribes from French arms firm Thales via his financial adviser at the time.
The case against him was dropped before he ran for president in 2009 but the charges which marred his presidency were reinstated in 2016.
The former head of state who was forced out of office in February denies any wrongdoing.
