The state's crucial response to former deputy president Jacob Zuma's counter-application for a permanent stay of prosecution was being filed with the Pietermaritzburg High Court late on Monday evening.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Makhosini Nkosi indicated that the state was filing about 500 pages in response to submissions by Zuma in his corruption trial.

He said that seven senior current and former officials had made affidavits on behalf of the state.

The papers were due to be lodged on Monday in terms of the deadline imposed by Judge Herbert Msimang on July 31.

Officials at the Pietermaritzburg High Court said they had not received the replying papers by the time court officially closed at 4.30pm.

The Mercury learned that the prosecution team, which was in Pretoria, apparently experienced "logistical difficulties" in getting the papers to Pietermaritzburg. Zuma's attorney, Michael Hulley, confirmed that he expected the papers to be served on him during the course of Monday evening or early on Tuesday.

Nkosi said the affidavits dealt "exhaustively with the allegations made by Mr Zuma and the other accused" in papers. In in a statement issued to the media he said that copies of the affidavits had been forwarded to the defence attorneys of record. One of the defence lawyers who had sight of the affidavits would only say on Monday that "blood will be flowing".

Nkosi said that, in all, seven affidavits had been deposed on behalf of the state in its response to the papers filed by Zuma and his co-accused, Pierre Moynot, Managing Director of Thint Holdings, the company charged with bribing Zuma in exchange for his support and protection in relation to the lucrative arms deal.

The deponents to the state's affidavits are National Director of Public Prosecutions and head of the NPA Vusi Pikoli, his predecessor, Bulelani Ngquka, former justice minister Penuel Maduna, current head of the Directorate of Special Operations Leonard McCarthy, advocates Billy Downer SC and Anton Steynberg, and Scorpions investigator Johan du Plooy.

Nkosi said the NPA had decided not to issue any of its affidavits "outside of the current court processes in due deference and respect to the court", saying this was after Msimang had indicated that the court would not issue the papers to the public until he had studied them.

"In line with the NPA's policy we shall not be making any comments on this matter as it is sub judice. We shall also refrain from issuing any of the documents in the state's possession to the media."

In his affidavit filed on the day of his first appearance in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on July 31, Zuma pointed a finger at President Thabo Mbeki as being one of the only people who could clarify if there had been corruption involved in the arms deal. He also claimed he was being denied a fair trial and had suffered irredeemable prejudice as a result of delays in bringing him to the trial and the "manner in which the prosecution has been conducted".

He claimed the pending corruption charges impacted negatively on his future political role and his eligibility as candidate for the presidency.

This article was originally published on page 1 of The Mercury on August 15, 2006

With acknowledgements to Ingrid Ollerman, Jeremy Gordin, Sapa and Independent On Line.