The start of the corruption trial of South Africa's scandal-tainted ex-president Jacob Zuma, which was slated to start yesterday, has been postponed to May 26, a judge said.

Zuma is facing 16 charges of fraud, graft and racketeering relating to a 1999 purchase of fighter jets, patrol boats and military gear from five European arms firms for 30 billion rand, then the equivalent of nearly $5.0 billion.