Jacob Zuma pleads not guilty to arms deal corruption charges

Former South African president faces multiple charges relating to an arms deal in 1999 when he was deputy president.

South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma has pleaded not guilty to corruption, fraud, racketeering and money laundering charges relating to a 1999 arms deal when he was deputy president. Zuma has repeatedly rejected the charges and says he is the victim of a politically motivated witch-hunt by his opponents. “I plead not guilty,” he said on Wednesday after the prosecutor read out the charges in court.