Judgement reserved in Spy Tapes appeal application
The North Gauteng High Court on Friday reserved judgement in the application by President Jacob Zuma and the National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) for leave to appeal in the so-called Spy Tapes matter.
This comes after the High Court in Pretoria in April ruled that the decision to drop more than 700 charges against President Jacob Zuma in 2009 was irrational and should be reviewed.
The court heard that it went too far by stating that President Jacob Zuma should face charges of fraud and corruption.
Hilton Epstein, who represented the NPA, said the court could not order President Zuma to face the charges in the indictment.
"When one looks at this judgement - and we know it's a matter of enormous public interest - and there is a statement by this court that Mr Zuma must face the charges in the indictment, it is very difficult to say that it is not appealable, because it is a statement. It's not a reason. It's a statement that's put in that he must face the charges as outlined in the indictment...we say that the court went too far in that," Epstein said.
President Zuma's representative, Kemp J Kemp, argued that the National Director of Public Prosecutions has the power to decide whether to prosecute or not.
DA leader Mmusi Maimane said it was another delay...
NPA spokesperson Luvuyo Mfaku said they were confident...
Samkele Maseko reports from court...