Lawyers for African National Congress president Jacob Zuma can still approach the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to make representations on his case, even though they missed the January 26 timeline to do so, the NPA said.
NPA spokesperson Tlali Tlali said they had indicated that they would make the representations on the ANC president’s case on Monday, but this passed without the representations taking place.
However, Tlali explained, such submissions are not bound by the rules of court procedure and there are no strict deadlines that have to be met, so Zuma’s legal team is still able to approach the authority.
Zuma’s lawyer Michael Hulley was not immediately available to elaborate. However, after the NPA won its appeal on January 12 to a judgement that set aside its prosecution of Zuma, Zuma’s lawyers indicated that they wanted to make representations about his case.
The right to do so had formed part of his latest court challenge.
Meanwhile, Tlali said the parties would meet again in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on February 4.
”You will have to come to court to find out why,” he said.
The Sunday Times reported that it is to set a date for a trial.
Last year, the NPA tried to prosecute Zuma and international arms company Thint for corruption relating to alleged bribery in an arms deal.
Meanwhile, Zuma’s legal team has until at least Monday February 2 to file papers in an application to the Constitutional Court for leave to appeal the Supreme Court of Appeal judgement.
The Constitutional Court’s roll is filling up, with several hearings already set down for February and March.
The Independent Electoral Commission has indicated that it would be ready to hold the 2009 national and provincial elections from April 15, a poll that is expected to result in Zuma becoming president of the country. — Sapa