EMPANGENI, SOUTH AFRICA JULY 18: President Jacob Zuma during a Nelson Mandela Memorial Lecture to commemorate Mandela Day on July 18, 2017 in Empangeni, South Africa. Zuma said, there were constant attempts to put Mandela on a pedestal and make him seem better than other black people and his ANC comrades. (Photo by Gallo Images / The Times / Thuli Dlamini)
Who are Thales? The French arms company in the dock with Zuma
Zuma has some company in the dock.
EMPANGENI, SOUTH AFRICA JULY 18: President Jacob Zuma during a Nelson Mandela Memorial Lecture to commemorate Mandela Day on July 18, 2017 in Empangeni, South Africa. Zuma said, there were constant attempts to put Mandela on a pedestal and make him seem better than other black people and his ANC comrades. (Photo by Gallo Images / The Times / Thuli Dlamini)
Jacob Zuma is finally getting his wish of seeing his day in court, but he will not be alone in the dock, as French arms company, Thales is also set to face the music for their involvement in the infamous arms deal.
The former president appeared in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Durban on Friday, where he was set to answer to allegations of corruption, stemming from 783 dodgy payments he is said to have received from the company.
In total, he is facing charges of corruption, fraud, money laundering and racketeering, and as News24 reported, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is also prosecuting the local affiliate of the arms company.
“The charges have been reinstated for them as well, and they will appear in court with Zuma,” NPA spokesperson, Luvuyo Mfeka is quoted by the publication.
Who are Thales?
The French company, previously known as Thompson CSF, is a giant in the defence industry and has offices in six continents, operating in three African countries, including South Africa.
When the ANC government implemented a multi-billion rand arms acquisition programme after coming into power, the company was awarded a R2.6 billion stake back in 1997. This was to supply combat systems for the SA Navy.
Thales is, however, no stranger to corruption, as it was previously blacklisted by the World Bank in 2004, due to fraudulent practices involving the Cambodia government.
Over a decade earlier, the company had also been involved in a similar arms deal scandal to the one in South Africa, this time in Taiwan.
Zuma’s relationship with Thales
According to Thales ex-attorney, Ajay Sooklal, Zuma was the recipient of a R500 000 per annum bribe which was given to him in return for him to use his influence protect the company in the arms deal probe.
The company is also said to have paid for Zuma’s legal costs in matters relating to the arms deal in the Mauritius Supreme Court.
It’s also alleged that Thales, alongside convicted fraudster, Schabir Shaik put on a collaborative effort in a series of bribes to Zuma which total to over R4 million.
Also read: Zuma corruption trial: A timeline of how we got to court
