On May 15, 2026, the KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court in Pietermaritzburg set a trial date for former President Jacob Zuma's arms deal case, rejecting further delays. The trial is scheduled to begin on May 26, 2026, after Judge N. M. Mngadi dismissed Zuma's application for a permanent stay of prosecution, which the judge described as a 'Stalingrad defence' tactic.
The case relates to the 1999 arms deal, where Zuma faces charges of corruption, fraud, and racketeering. Zuma has denied any wrongdoing. The trial was initially set for 2025 but was postponed due to legal challenges.
The judge ruled that the trial must proceed without further delay, citing the public interest in resolving the long-standing case. Zuma's legal team had argued that the delay in prosecution violated his right to a fair trial, but the court found no merit in this claim.
