Zuma was at the centre of a 1990s deal to buy European military kit that has cast a shadow over politics in South Africa for years
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A decades-long corruption charge has finally caught up with former South African president Jacob Zuma.
Zuma was at the centre of a 1990s deal to buy European military kit that has cast a shadow over politics in South Africa for years.
He will face 16 charges relating to 783 instances of alleged wrongdoing, National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Luvuyo Mfaku said.
Twelve are of fraud, one of racketeering, two of corruption and one of money laundering.
Chief state prosecutor Shaun Abrahams said Zuma's attempts to head off the charges hanging over him had failed.
"In the interest of transparency, in the interest of the administration of justice, and in the interest of the national prosecution authority, I am of the view that a trial court would be the most appropriate forum for these issues to be ventilated and to be decided upon," he said.
Since his election nine years ago, Zuma's opponents have fought a lengthy legal battle to have the charges reinstated while Zuma has countered with his own legal challenges.
The 75-year-old has denied all the allegations against him,
The former South African leader was beset by scandal during his tenure and stepped down in February amid a slew of corruption allegations.