Cape Town - Deputy president Jacob Zuma may still be prosecuted on corruption charges if the French authorities agree to help the Scorpions obtain information from two French businessmen which might be crucial to the investigation.

Spokesperson for the Scorpions, Lungisa Dyosi, said on Tuesday that this evidence would determine whether the case against Zuma should be taken further.

"We approached the French authorities about a month ago to assist us in obtaining this evidence," Dyosi said.

The Scorpions' earlier attempts failed to get Alain Thetard and Jean Paul Perrier of the French weapons manufacturer, Thales (formerly known as Thomsons CSF) to testify.

Zuma's application to the Pretoria High Court to gain access to a handwritten fax, which allegedly connects him to Thales, must still be heard. The fax forms part of the charge sheet against Schabir Shaik, Zuma's financial adviser, who is facing a corruption charge.

The fax apparently describes a secret meeting in Durban on March 11, 2000 that was attended by Zuma, Shaik and Thetard. Thetard and Perrier's testimony could bolster the case against Shaik.

Dyosi said the absence of this testimony would not necessarily weaken their case against Shaik.

"As it is, we have a strong case. Although we have not had a reaction from the French authorities, indications are that they will assist us. The fact that a month has elapsed is not strange as one is dealing with two different legal systems."

Dyosi denied that the Scorpions were negotiating with the French to offer indemnity - in South Africa and France - to Thetard and Perrier in exchange for their testimony.

"We do not know whether the men would testify in France or South Africa - if they testify at all - but we would prefer this to happen in South Africa."

With acknowledgements to Anesca Smith and Die Burger.