A further two accused have been added to the indictment against former deputy president Jacob Zuma, the National Prosecuting Authority said on Friday.
Spokesperson Makhosini Nkosi said Thint Holding (Southern Africa), formerly known as Thomson-CSF, and Thint, formerly known as Thomson, will be accused numbers two and three respectively.
The two companies will be represented by Pierre Jean-Marie Robert Moynot.
Nkosi said the companies will face charges of corruption related to those of which Zuma has been accused.
”Written notice to appear at the Durban High Court on July 31 2006 was served on both Thint companies in Pretoria this morning [Friday],” Nkosi said.
The indictment that was handed to Zuma’s lawyer, Michael Hulley, in Durban on Friday will be served on him formally during a brief court appearance on November 12.
”Only then will the indictment form part of the court record and be available to the public.”
Hulley earlier said the indictment was served in an informal matter, and that Zuma was not present.
”It was purely the handing over of an indictment.”
An indictment sets out the charges that a person accused of a crime faces in a trial to be held in a high court.
Zuma has made one appearance on an initial charge of corruption that emanated from the trial of his former financial adviser Schabir Shaik.
Shaik’s fraud and corruption conviction, which he is appealing, relates to money given to Zuma, which the court found was a bribe from Thint in exchange for protection during probes into an arms deal. Shaik denied this, saying the money was a loan.
Zuma has repeatedly said he is innocent.
In the aftermath of Shaik’s conviction, Zuma was ”released” from his post as deputy president by President Thabo Mbeki, sparking a wave of protests and unprecedented support for Zuma, who is still deputy president of the ruling African National Congress. — Sapa