Duduzane Zuma was shackled and had a nervous smile when he arrived in the Johannesburg Commercial Crimes Court on a chilly Monday morning.
The son of the former South African president has been charged with corruption, alternatively conspiracy to commit corruption, relating to an alleged R600m offer made to former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas in 2015 by Ajay Gupta, in Zuma's presence.
Gupta allegedly offered Jonas the position of finance minister at the family's Saxonwold compound.
"At this meeting, Mr Ajay Gupta in the presence of [Zuma] offered Mcebisi Jonas the position of finance minister, advising him that the current minister of finance was to be relieved of his position in Cabinet," a provisional charge sheet, shared with the media, reads.
"Mr Ajay Gupta further offered an amount of R600 million to be deposited in a bank account of his choice and R600 000 in cash immediately to assist him and his companies in their business ventures with government."
Lengthy postponement
Jonas claimed he refused the offer and left.
The State alleges that Zuma was a party to the crime because he was present.
Magistrate Jeremy Jansen van Vuuren granted him R100 000 bail.
He has also been instructed to hand over his passport to the investigating officer, and - if he wishes to travel - he must first seek permission.
Prosecutor Bulelwa Vimbane stated that a lengthy postponement was required to finalise the investigation. The matter was postponed to January 24, 2019.
The case against Zuma and Gupta was registered in 2016.
Zuma's ever-present and easy charm extended to the team of prosecutors as he greeted each of them by hand.
He joked with the media but refused to be drawn into any serious questions over the proceedings on Monday - or his next scheduled court appearance on two culpable homicide charges in the Randburg Magistrate's Court.
These charges relate to the death of Phumzile Dube, who was travelling home in a taxi in 2014, after Zuma lost control of his Porsche sports car on a rainy and soaked M1 near the Grayston Road off-ramp.
Another passenger, Jeanette Mashaba, died a few days after the crash - and her death was originally ruled as one of natural causes.
Update:
'I have no intention to live a life of a fugitive' - Duduzane Zuma
Maintaining his innocence, corruption-accused Duduzane Zuma – son of former president Jacob Zuma – says that he is "fully aware" of what he might face.
Zuma, who appeared in court in connection with the corruption allegations on Monday, maintained his innocence in an affidavit prepared in Dubai, which was dated July 5, 2018.
In it, he said that he had been in Dubai on business and lived there with his family since February 2018.
"I deny that I am guilty of any criminal acts in relation to these averments and I am returning to South Africa fully aware of the fact that I am facing, not only the charges of culpable homicide but potentially other charges some of which may well be serious in nature," reads his affidavit.
"I am confident, not only of my innocence, but also of the fact that it would be in the interest of justice to be released on bail pending the outcome of any charges as might be brought.
"It is necessary for me to travel internationally for my business and I place on record that I shall always return to South Africa when necessary as I have done now to face any criminal proceedings against me."
Zuma also mentioned that it was not in the interest of justice that his passport be handed over to the investigating officer or taken away from him.
However, he was instructed to hand over his passport to the investigating officer. If he needs to travel, he has to seek permission first.
"My wife and I normally travel together as a family and she would have returned with me but deemed it advisable for her not to travel during her pregnancy as she is substantially pregnant," he said in his affidavit.
He added that there was no likelihood that he would attempt to evade his trial.
"I have no intention to live a life of a fugitive," he said.
On Monday, Zuma was shackled and smiled nervously when he briefly appeared in the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.
He has been charged with corruption, alternatively conspiracy to commit corruption. The charges stem from allegations that Ajay Gupta made a R600m offer to former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas in his presence in 2015.
Gupta allegedly offered Jonas the position of finance minister at the family's Saxonwold compound. Jonas claimed he refused the offer.
The State alleges that Zuma was a party to the crime because he was present.
However, his appearance was over almost as soon as it started and Magistrate Jeremy Jansen van Vuuren released him on R100 000 bail.
Zuma is expected to appear in the Randburg Magistrate's Court on Thursday in connection with the separate culpable homicide charges against him.
The charges relate to the death of Phumzile Dube, who had been travelling home in a taxi in 2014, after Zuma lost control of his Porsche sports car on a rainy and soaked M1 near the Grayston Road off-ramp.
Another passenger, Jeanette Mashaba, died a few days after the crash – and her death was originally ruled as one of natural causes.
