State accuses Zuma of delay tactics

Jacob Zuma says the elections will go a long way in helping to resolve the turmoil Zimbabwe

The National Directorate of Public Prosecutions says ANC President Jacob Zuma is using delaying tactics in order to avoid his corruption trial. The State says it believes it has a good chance of prosecuting Zuma.

The State today fought hard to persuade the Constitutional Court to not declare invalid search warrants used to raid Zuma’s home, his attorney Micheal Hulley’s offices and French arms manufacturer, Thint.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) expressed frustration at what it called "pre-trial skirmishes" to avoid the real issue -- the corruption trial. State advocate Wim Trengrove told the court that this was just another attempt to delay justice. He said the State was convinced of its case.

However, the judges were concerned about whether the NPA had followed procedure, and whether rights had been violated. Trengrove argued that the warrants were not vague and were upheld by the Supreme Court of Appeal. Trengrove denied that searches on Zuma's lawyer disregarded legal privilege.

The NPA has consistently defended its modus operandi. Judgment on the validity of the warrants was reserved.

Tomorrow, Zuma will continue with his efforts to block the NPA from securing Mauritian documents. The Constitutional Court will hear argument challenging a letter of request to access the infamous Thint diary.