Piet Koen, the judge in the corruption trial against former South African president Jacob Zuma, announced on Monday that he would recuse himself from the case to preserve justice.
“I have to recuse myself from the trial. This is what the proper administration of justice, the Constitution, and my conscience dictates,” he said in the Pietermaritzburg court during a televised hearing.
Mr. Zuma, 80, is accused of corruption. He faces 16 counts of fraud, bribery, and racketeering. Thales is also being prosecuted for corruption and money laundering.
The court proceedings, which began in May 2021, have been delayed several times due to multiple appeals by the accused and postponements obtained by his lawyers for health reasons.
Jacob Zuma has been trying for several months to have the Attorney General, Billy Downer, recused from the trial in order to gain time, accusing the Attorney General of leaking information to the press.
As a last resort, Jacob Zuma has recently launched ‘private prosecutions’, where the national prosecution service refuses to prosecute.
The next hearing in his corruption trial has been set for 17 April. Judge Nkosinathi Chili has been appointed to take over.