afrol News, 17 September - South African prosecutors are challenging a High Court ruling, which nullified corruption charges against ruling party leader Jacob Zuma.

Mr Zuma charges were dismissed by South African Pietermaritzburg High court last Friday, clearing his way to run as country's next presidential elections.

Judge Chris Nicholson's threw out charges on a legal technicality but said it could be resubmitted, saying there was also evidence that charges had been politically motivated.

"We have decided to apply for leave to appeal against the judgment," National Prosecuting Authority said in an e-mailed statement today.

According to NPA appeal would include court's interpretation of constitution and NPA Act regarding obligation to solicit representations before recharging which they claim was incorrect.

"If the appeal is rejected, the NPA has yet to make a decision on whether to recharge Mr Zuma,'' prosecuting authority said.

Mr Zuma, ANC's candidate for presidential elections next year, has been under investigation since 2001 on accusations he took bribes from arms dealers. He was facing charges of corruption, fraud and money laundering relating to a multi-billion dollar 1999 arms deal.

Charges against Mr Zuma related to South Africa's largest post-apartheid arms deal, involving contracts totaling 30bn rand ($3.7bn) to modernise its national defence force, involving companies from Germany Italy, Sweden, Britain, France and South Africa.

Last week's court ruling and suspicion that president Mbeki is behind charges prompted ANC's youth league and military veterans association to call for president to be removed from office.

Mr Zuma was sacked as South Africa's deputy president in 2005, when his financial adviser was found guilty of soliciting a bribe on behalf of Mr Zuma and jailed for 15 years in connection with deal.

He then went on trial, but case collapsed in 2006 when prosecution said it was not ready to proceed.

He was charged again last December shortly after winning a bitter campaign against President Mbeki to become ANC leader in what his allies say was a political conspiracy to prevent him becoming president.

In April 2006, Mr Zuma was acquitted of rape in a separate case, though he was widely criticised for comments about sex and HIV/AIDS.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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