/ 12 September 2005

NPA asked to return Zuma documents

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is expected to respond on Monday to a request that documents seized during raids on former deputy president Jacob Zuma’s residences be given back.

Zuma’s attorney Michael Hulley said he had been told the NPA would meet on Monday before responding to his request.

Hulley asked on Friday that documents seized from Zuma’s homes in Johannesburg and KwaZulu-Natal be returned, as well as documents seized from Hulley’s office.

This comes after the Johannesburg High Court ruled on Friday that raids by the Scorpions on the office and home of Zuma’s former attorney Julekha Mahomed were unlawful.

Judge Ismail Hussain said in his judgement that two search warrants for the office and home were obtained and executed unlawfully, and that attorney-client privilege was violated by the Scorpions’ conduct.

The warrants were set aside and the Scorpions were ordered to return all documents, files and objects seized from her premises.

However, the NPA said on Friday it would appeal the ruling.

The raids all took place on August 18.

NPA spokesperson Makhosini Nkosi confirmed the meeting and said a statement would be issued later in the day.

Zuma was fired as South Africa’s deputy president in July after he was found by Durban High Court to have had a ”generally corrupt” relationship with his financial adviser Schabir Shaik.

Zuma was then charged on two counts of corruption.

He is to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court in October. — Sapa