President Jacob Zuma. (Gallo)
"I am persuaded that there are prospects that another court can come to a different conclusion," said Judge Rammaka Mathopo on Friday. "Leave to appeal is granted."
Zuma lodged the application for leave to appeal against Mathopo's own ruling in the North Gauteng High Court on August 16.
Mathopo had ruled last month that acting National Prosecuting Authority head Nomgcobo Jiba should lodge a copy of the tapes with the registrar of the court within five working days.
This was in response to an application by the Democratic Alliance, which has been trying to obtain the tapes after the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that it had the right of access to them.
The court gave the NPA until last Friday to produce the tapes, but Zuma's legal team filed notice that he would seek leave to appeal the court ruling.
Interpretations of the order
The tapes, and transcripts and other documents, relate to a 2009 NPA decision to drop corruption charges against Zuma.
Mathopo said on Friday he granted leave to appeal due to the fact that there were different interpretations of the order by the parties.
"It is my view that this matter requires the Supreme Court of Appeal to decide on the final interpretations," he said. – Sapa