Former president Jacob Zuma and Thales SA (PTY) LTD will go on trial for corruption next month in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.
Zuma is accused of taking bribes from French arms company Thales related to the multi billion rand arms deal in 1999.
The former president, who goes on trial a day before his 80th birthday, faces charges of corruption, racketeering and money laundering.
Zuma had been objecting to being prosecuted by Advocate Billy Downer SC alleging he was biased against him.
Last month Pietermaritzburg High Court Judge Piet Koen dismissed Zumas attempt to remove prosecutor Advocate Downer SC, saying the former president’s special plea lacks reasonable prospects of success.
Zuma, who was released on medical parole while serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of court, then took the matter on appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) of SA.
The former president had also accused Downer of leaking to the media confidential medical records regarding his medical parole.
However, on Thursday the SCA ruled: “The application for leave to appeal is dismissed with costs on the grounds that there is no reasonable prospect of success in an appeal and there is no other compelling reason why an appeal should be heard”.
With the last hurdle removed, Zuma and Thales are now expected to answer to the decades old graft charges next month, from 11 April.
Commenting on the SCA ruling, Spokesperson Advocate Mthunzi Mhaga said the National Prosecution Authority had full confidence in Downer and expected the trial to begin as scheduled.
