The legal teams of African National Congress president Jacob Zuma and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) are likely to meet in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Friday to thrash out future court dates.
The two legal teams, along with that of Zuma’s co-accused, Thint, are expected to decide on the dates for Zuma’s application for a stay of prosecution as well as a trial date.
Zuma faces a charge of racketeering, four charges of corruption, a charge of money laundering and 12 charges of fraud related to a multibillion-rand government arms deal.
Zuma was charged in 2005 but that case was struck from the role in 2006. He was re-charged in December 2007.
The two Thint companies — Thint Holding (Southern Africa) Pty Ltd and Thint (Pty) Ltd — are the South African subsidiaries of French arms manufacturing giant Thales International (formerly Thomson-CFS).
They both face a charge of racketeering and two counts of corruption.
The two legal teams could possibly agree to court dates before the formal court hearing on Friday. However, indications by Wednesday afternoon were that no agreement had been reached.
Zet Luzipho, the Congress of South African Trade Unions provincial secretary, said that he could not comment on plans for protests or night vigils.
Earlier this month, Judge Chris Nicholson heard Zuma’s application to have the decision to charge him declared unlawful. As many as 4 000 attended the night vigil that preceded the two-day application.
Nicholson’s ruling on the application is expected to be heard on September 12. — Sapa