Zuma not stalling: Lawyer

President Jacob Zuma's lawyer has dismissed claims by DA leader Helen Zille that the postponement of Zuma's application for leave to appeal in the so-called spy tapes saga was "stonewalling", The Star reported on Thursday.

 

"That's nonsense. The fact is that our counsel has engaged the Supreme Court of Appeal [SCA] and as a matter of practice and ethics, they had to give us [the postponement]," lawyer Michael Hulley was quoted as saying.

 

"It's a practical issue. People are looking for nonsense."

 

Zille said on Wednesday that the postponement revealed "Zuma's continued cynical use of taxpayers' money to avoid handing over the 'spy tapes'."

 

"After ten years of legal obfuscation, prevarication, evasion and stonewalling, they have still not exhausted all their options."

 

Presidency spokesman Mac Maharaj also reportedly dismissed Zille's claims.

 

The appeal would be heard on September 6 at the High Court in Johannesburg. It was initially meant to have been heard on Thursday.

 

The tapes, transcripts and other documents, relate to a 2009 National Prosecuting Authority decision to drop corruption charges against Zuma.

 

 

- Sapa