NDPP extends President's deadline on corruption charges
National Director of Public Prosecutions, Shaun Abrahams, has extended President Jacob Zuma's submission date for representations as to why he should not be prosecuted until 31 January 2018.
President Zuma was meant to file his submissions on November 30, but requested an extension because of the complexity of the case and the unavailability of legal counsel.
The Supreme Court of Appeal rejected President Zuma's appeal to have the 2009 decision to have him face the 783 charges of fraud, corruption and racketeering be withdrawn.
National Prosecution Authority spokesperson, Luvuyo Mfaku, says the President's team had requested the cut-off date to be 19 February 2018, however Abrahams rejected this.
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Mfaku says the decision to extend the date was not a political one.
He adds that the NDPP reviewed the letter and made the decision purely based on the merits of the case.
Abrahams has made it clear that he would not accept any request for extensions with regards to submissions for representations.
The Democratic Alliance's Federal Council Chairperson, James Selfe, said the DA is very disappointed but is not surprised by the NDPPs decision to extend.
Selfe says the DA believes this is part of the pattern of delay which has been ongoing for the past couple of years and they will be expecting the representations in January.