NPA prepares for Mauritius trip to fight Zuma

Jacob Zuma is in Mauritius to fight corruption charges

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) may travel to Mauritius to oppose any moves by ANC President Jacob Zuma to stop them from accessing evidence which could possibly be used against him in a corruption trial. The documents are said to be significant in its case against Zuma.

The 2000 diary of Thint chief executive, Alain Thetard, is alleged to include times and dates when he had meetings with Schabir Schaik and Zuma. Judge Phillip Levinson authorised the NPA to approach the Mauritian authorities in order to get access to the documents. But it is now the subject of a Constitutional Court challenge and could possibly also be challenged in Mauritius.

The acting NPA says it will put up a fight. "We will oppose the case and we have taken steps to obtain those documents in Mauritius," says Mokotedi Mphse.

Legal analysts say it will be interesting to see how the Mauritian authorities deal with the matter. They say given Zuma’s position as a possible future Head of State, they will proceed with caution.

Mauritian court officials in Port Louis today refused to comment, while the embassy in Tshwane would only say that Zuma was on the island for private business.