Zuma, NPA continue battle over Mauritian documents

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Jacob Zuma and French arms manufacturer Thint return to the Durban High Court on Tuesday.

The NPA will attempt to obtain an execution granting it permission to get documents from Mauritius about meetings believed to relate to Zuma’s role in the multibillion-rand arms deal.

In April the NPA obtained an order from the Durban High Court allowing it to seek the documents, which include the diary of former Thint chief executive Alain Thetard.

These documents allegedly prove that there were meetings held where Zuma, convicted Durban businessman Schabir Shaik and Thetard met to discuss a R500 000-a-year bribe.

However, both Thint and Zuma’s legal teams obtained leave to appeal against the issuing of the letter of authorisation granted by Judge Philip Levensohn.

Both Thint and Zuma are expected to oppose the execution order.

If the NPA obtains the execution order, it can proceed with obtaining the documents pending the outcome of the appeal against Levensohn’s decision, which is expected to be heard in the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein in the latter half of this year.—Sapa