A South African court allows the corruption trial of Jacob Zuma and Thales

On May 14, 2026, a South African court approved the corruption trial involving former president Jacob Zuma and the French group Thales. This decision ends attempts to delay proceedings in a controversial 1990s arms deal case, where Zuma is accused of taking bribes to protect Thales from an investigation. The case, dubbed 'Stop Stalingrad', has been marked by multiple legal challenges aimed at postponing the trial.