There was no welcoming party for former president Jacob Zuma when he arrived at the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Tuesday morning for his graft case.
Previously scores of supporters would converge at courts.
The court heard that the arrest warrant issued for Zuma relating to a missed court appearance in February has been withdrawn.
Zuma claimed that he was seeking medical treatment in Cuba, but didn’t provide details.
Zuma’s advocate, Muzi Sikhakhane, told Judge Kate Pillay that the defence had obtained a more detailed sick note from Zuma’s doctor, ZK Motene, who is based at One Military Hospital and is part of a cohort of medical personnel seconded to the Union Buildings.
LAW: Adv Muzi Skhakhane
“To put this matter to bed once and for all, we have tried to get that doctor again whose note was disbelieved to do it again proving that Mr Zuma was in Cuba and he was ill,” said Sikhakhane.
Judge Pillay asked Senior State Prosecutor, advocate Billy Downer if he was satisfied with the note, to which he indicated yes.
“Mr Sikhakhane, the warrant of arrest is cancelled,” Pillay said.
But the matter was postponed once again, to 8 September, after French arms company, Thales, the second accused in the high profile trial, said it would launch a civil application to have the racketeering charge set aside.
Zuma and Thales are accused of having a corrupt hand in the now-infamous multi billion rand Arms Deal of the late 90s.
The NPA alleges that Zuma got bribes from Thales for his political influence during the procurement and bribes were channelled via Schabir Shaik.
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