Former president Jacob Zuma will not appear before the Pietermaritzburg High Court today as he is still in hospital.
Zuma’s legal team, led by Advocate Dali Mpofu SC, were set to argue why the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) top prosecutor, Advocate Billy Downer SC, should not lead the prosecution for his alleged arms deal corruption.
On Friday the Department of Correctional Services said Zuma, 79, left his Estcourt Prison cell where he is serving 15-month sentence for contempt of the Constitutional Court, to undergo a routine medical check up with the military health services.
By yesterday morning, Zuma was still in hospital and it was not clear when he would be discharged.
Further placing his court appearance in doubt was a statement from the Jacob Zuma Foundation which said it had learnt that all legal parties to the matter were mulling a postponement.
“Following last night confirmation by the Department of Correctional Services that (former) President Zuma is still in hospital, the foundation has learnt that his and the NPA legal teams are discussing making a joint approach to the judge for a postponement of this week’s proceedings in the Pietermaritzburg High Court,” the foundation tweeted.
In a previous tweet the Foundation said there was no need to be alarmed over Zuma’s health.
However, the NPA said that they can’t comment yet: “We cannot comment on the matter at this stage until there is pronouncement from the judge”.