War of words continues between Zuma and NPA

Zuma will begin his trial in the Pietermaritzburg High Court

The war of words between ANC President Jacob Zuma and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) continues in preparatory court papers ahead of Zuma's application in the Pietermaritzburg High Court next week to declare his prosecution unconstitutional.

Zuma now accuses the NPA of implying that the charges against him are predetermined. This is contained in Zuma's replying affidavit to the State's response to his application to have his prosecution set aside.

The State recharged Zuma in December 2007 with corruption, racketeering, money-laundering and tax-evasion after his earlier trial was struck off the roll in 2006.

Last month, Zuma applied to have the charges against him declared unconstitutional, on the grounds that the NPA had never given him a chance to respond to criminal allegations against him.

The investigation against Zuma has been on the cards for eight years and he says the State appears hell-bent on prosecuting him. The ANC leader also says the State insists on taking chances because it's evidence would rely on documents seized in raids, whose constitutionality is still to be determined.

Zuma also says he remains determined to argue against the State's attempt to erase from his application his allegations of political propaganda against him and details of his struggle history.