Zuma's arrest had triggered the worst unrest in South Africa in the post apartheid era, killing over 200 people and inflicting damages worth millions of dollars in the riots, reported Reuters

Though the government has largely restored order in the streets, it was feared that Zuma's appearance in the court could again trigger violent protests by his support base, the report stated, it added.

The efforts to prosecute Zooma for receiving kickbacks in a two billion dollar weapon deal is being viewed as a test of South Africa's ability to try high profile politicians, said the report.

Zuma has also been charged with fraud and money laundering, but has evaded prosecution for over a decade by casting himself as victim of politically motivated witch hunt, according to the report.

One of his lawyers Dali Mpofu spoke on behalf during the online trial arguing that the trial should be postponed for Zuma to appear in front of the judges in person as opposed to virtually.

Mpofu contended that Zuma had not been able to consult his legal team when he turned himself in on July 8 to start a 15-month prison sentence for contempt of court.

He sought a postponement of three weeks by which time he expected the court to have made a ruling on his application to rescind his jail term, the report informed.