PIETERMARITZBURG - The KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg has dismissed an application by former President Jacob Zuma and French company Thales to have their charges in the arms deal trial dropped.
The court handed down judgement on the application on Wednesday.
A trial date will now be set on 24 April.
The former President and Thales face fraud, racketeering and money laundering charges relating to the controversial 1999 arms deal.
The State wants the court to order to allow the trial to proceed despite pending or future interlocutory applications.
The judgment is likely to heighten a legal showdown already underway between the State and defence in the arms deal corruption trial.