He is is accused of taking bribes from French arms manufacturer Thales in the 1990s when he was deputy president.
Former South African president Jacob Zuma
will face trial for corruption.
The 77-year-old, who was president from
2009 to 2018, is accused of taking bribes from a French arms manufacturer
relating to a $2.5bn (£1.78bn) deal in the 1990s which took place while he was
deputy president.
The charges were raised more than a decade
ago but were dropped. They were reinstated when the National Prosecuting
Authority announced there were sufficient grounds to bring him to trial.
Zuma denies any wrongdoing and had applied
for a permanent stay of prosecution from 16 charges of fraud, racketeering and
money laundering relating to the deal.
He was forced to step down as leader last
year following different corruption allegations.
The former president's legal team argued
his court case has been prejudiced by long delays as well as alleging there has
been political interference in the decision to bring charges.
Zuma can appeal Friday's ruling and has not
made a statement so far.
The trial is expected to start on 15
October.
His successor, President Cyril Ramaphosa,
made tackling corruption a key policy.
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