The presidency is prepared to defend in court its position on the exclusion of Judge Willem Heath's investigative unit from a probe into South Africa's R43-billion arms deal, presidential spokesperson Bheki Khumalo said on Monday. 

He was reacting to news that the Pan Africanist Congress plans to go ahead with a judicial review of President Thabo Mbeki's decision to exclude the unit from the investigation. 

"We believe in the correctness of the position taken by the president... and we will go to any court in the country to defend that position," Khumalo said. 

Patricia de Lille, the PAC member of parliament, said lawyers had scrutinised the documentation - provided by Mbeki on Wednesday - on which the president had based his decision to exclude Heath. 

"We envisage to proceed to court shortly," De Lille said. 

With acknowledgement to Sapa and Independent Online.