In a move likely to put further pressure on the Scorpions’ investigation of Jacob Zuma, the former deputy president’s trial date has been set for July 31 next year in the Durban High Court, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said yesterday.

The date was agreed on by the NPA, Zuma’s defence team and the Judge President of KwaZulu-Natal, Vuka Tshabalala.

This means investigators must sift through 93000 pages of documentation seized from Zuma and his associates, to formulate an indictment to be served on Zuma next month. The formal investigation into Zuma’s financial affairs will legally cease when he is asked to plead before a high court judge next July.

NPA spokesman Makhosini Nkosi said investigators could still amend the charge sheet against Zuma until a high court plea was entered.

“As the NPA, we are pleased with this as it offers us what we wanted all the time — which is enough time to prepare for this case,” Nkosi said.

Nkosi said Zuma’s right to a fair and speedy trial would now be fulfilled. His lawyers argued during his second magistrate’s court appearance this week that their client’s rights were prejudiced by the state’s failure to produce an indictment after years of investigating.

So far, Zuma faces two charges of contravening the Corruption Act, brought after the conviction and sentencing of his friend and former financial adviser Schabir Shaik for fraud and corruption.

The existing charges against Zuma relate to alleged bribery in exchange for protection and political influence during the country’s corruption-riddled multibillion-rand arms deal, and a relationship with Shaik described as “generally corrupt” by Judge Hilary Squires.

Sources have said the NPA hopes to press at least two further charges against Zuma, likely to be tax evasion and perjury. These charges relate to his alleged failure to declare extra income and benefits received from Shaik to the South African Revenue Service and Parliament.

Zuma’s attorney Michael Hulley said he was “happy” with the trial date, “given the time constraints and nature of the (court) roll”. He said the NPA would deliver the indictment to his offices on November 2 and that Zuma would be formally charged during a brief court appearance on November 12.

Zuma’s second appearance in the Durban Magistrate’s Court was adjourned on Tuesday with the agreement of the state and the defence to enable further investigation, allow the state to prepare an indictment and set a high court trial date.

With acknowledgements to Vukani Mde, Sapa and the Business Day.