Zuma Arms Deal Saga Drags On: State Slams 18 Years of ‘Stalingrad Tactics’ as Judge Reserves Judgment for January
The long-running arms deal corruption trial against former President Jacob Zuma and French arms company Thales returned to the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday, where prosecutors accused Zuma of deliberately dodging justice for more than 18 years.
In a bold move, the state has asked the court for an order to let the main trial go ahead, even with background appeals still pending, calling it a way to break the cycle of endless delays. Judge Nkosinathi Chili heard arguments on Zuma and Thales’ bid for leave to appeal a earlier ruling that kept the charges alive, reserving judgment for 23 January 2026.
This latest hearing marks the 12th side application – or interlocutory bid – since the case started in 2005, highlighting what the state calls Zuma’s “Stalingrad tactics” to stall proceedings.
As South Africans wait for closure on one of the country’s biggest graft scandals, the delays have cost millions in public money and raised questions about equal justice for all.
The Charges: Fraud, Racketeering and Money Laundering from the 1999 Arms Deal
Zuma and Thales face serious counts of fraud, corruption, money laundering and racketeering tied to the controversial 1999 arms deal – a multi-billion-rand government contract to buy weapons from European firms. Prosecutors say Zuma took bribes from Thales through his financial advisor Schabir Shaik, who was convicted in 2005 for his role.
The deal, meant to modernise South Africa’s military, has been dogged by claims of kickbacks and political favours since the early 2000s.
The case against Zuma was first brought in 2005 but dropped in 2009, just before he became president. It was reinstated in 2018 after courts found the drop unlawful. Thales, accused of paying the bribes to win contracts, has fought alongside Zuma to have the charges thrown out, arguing they are politically driven and lack proof.
Thursday’s session focused on their appeal against Judge Chili’s June 2025 ruling, which turned down their request to remove lead prosecutor Billy Downer and drop the case. Zuma claimed Downer had a bias and leaked info, but the judge found no grounds for that.
State’s ‘Stop Stalingrad’ Bid: Ending the ‘Merry-Go-Round’ of Appeals
Lead prosecutor Wim Trengove pulled no punches, filing what he dubbed the “stop Stalingrad tactics application” to block further delays. He argued that Zuma’s pattern of endless appeals has kept the trial from starting for two decades. “The historical pattern which has been going on for 18 years will simply continue. Your Lordship [judge] will refuse them ‘leave to appeal’ in this application to stop the prosecution, they will apply for leave to appeal to the SCA [Supreme Court of Appeal] tomorrow,” Trengove said.
“If that application is refused, they will apply for a reconsideration in the SCA and if that is refused, they apply for leave to appeal at the Constitutional Court and if that is refused, history shows us there will be another interim application. We can’t simply resign ourselves to the fact that we are stuck in this merry-go-round, which never ends.”
Trengove stressed that letting side appeals halt the main trial goes against justice, as it allows accused people to drag cases out forever. The state wants the court to rule that the trial can proceed while appeals run in the background, a common practice in other big cases to avoid abuse.
Zuma’s Defence: Fighting for Fair Trial Rights
Zuma’s team, led by advocate Dali Mpofu, hit back, saying the appeals are valid fights for a fair trial. They argued that Downer’s role taints the case, citing past leaks and bias claims. Mpofu called the state’s bid an overreach, warning it could set a bad example by rushing trials without fixing flaws.
Thales echoed this, claiming the charges are old and weak, with key witnesses gone and evidence lost over time. Their lawyers said dropping the case would save public money and end a “politically motivated” chase.
But the state countered that delays are Zuma’s own doing, with over 20 failed bids to stop or change the trial. They pointed to his health claims, recusal attempts and other tactics that have pushed costs over R200 million.
Judgment Reserved: What Happens Next on 23 January?
Judge Chili listened to both sides before reserving judgment for 23 January 2026. If he grants leave to appeal, the case heads to the Supreme Court of Appeal, likely adding months or years. But if he backs the state’s “stop Stalingrad” request, the main trial could start soon, forcing Zuma to face the charges head-on.
This ruling comes on the same day Zuma lost a separate fight in Pretoria over repaying R28.9 million in state-paid legal fees for the case. That blow, plus his ongoing private prosecution of Downer (set for SCA hearing in February 2026), keeps the pressure on.
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