NPA asks for warrant of arrest for Zuma
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has requested the Pietermaritzburg High Court to issue a warrant of arrest for former president Jacob Zuma after failing to appear in court.
Zuma was due to appear in court on Tuesday.
Zuma and French weapons manufacturer Thales are facing charges of corruption, fraud and racketeering linked to the country’s multi-billion rand arms deal.
The same court previously dismissed Zuma application to permanently stay his prosecution, but Zuma argued that the Supreme Court of Appeal could reasonably come to a different conclusion.
State Prosecutor Billy Downer says they had written to Zuma's legal counsel in January asking them to furnish the state with medical certificates, but they have since not received any replies.
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"In our letter on the 16th of January, we replied immediately to Mr Zuma and said please supply us with the relevant medical certificates so we can formulate a position relating to what we're going to do regarding his absence in court.
"And we have received no reply from Mr Mantsha regarding that letter."
Downer says when an accused fails to appear in court it is a criminal offence.
"It is a criminal offence for an accused to not appear in a court having been warned by the court on the 15th of October to be present today and the procedure - as we understand it my lady - is that the court has to hold an inquiry relating to any justifiable reasons for absence.
"The postponement has to be subject to issue of a warrant to of arrest for absent accused.
"So we ask that because the accused (Zuma) is not here, that a warrant of arrest be issued."