File: After nearly two decades, the State versus former president Jacob Zuma is finally ready for a showdown in court.
JOHANNESBURG - Former president Jacob Zuma's filed court papers to appeal a judgment that he stand trial on corruption charges.
The KwaZulu-Natal High Court rejected Zuma's bid for a permanent stay of prosecution.
The application for leave to appeal will be heard later this month.
Zuma's facing a string of charges including fraud, corruption and racketeering.
He allegedly took bribes during the 1990s arms deal.
Prosecution spokeswoman Natasha Kara told AFP: "I can confirm that Mr Zuma has indeed filed the application for leave to appeal on Friday."
That was the last day on which Zuma could have appealed a court rejection of his request to have the charges dismissed.
The former president and arms company Thales are denying the charges.
Zuma has dismissed the case as a "witch hunt".
The case was postponed to 4 February next year.
- Additional reporting AFP
