JOHANNESBURG – One of the strongest indications yet that ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma will be recharged with corruption, the High Court order obtained by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), has been applauded by the arms deal’s fiercest critic.

Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille described news of the court order yesterday as “a step in the right direction” but “long overdue”.

She said it was an indictment of the NPA that other countries had investigated South Africans while it refused to act.

De Lille said the NPA, Public Protector and Auditor General actually found themselves in a predicament because the three bodies exonerated government from any wrongdoing in their report in 2001.

“The fact that the NPA now at least seeks to obtain assistance from abroad must be commended,” she said.