DURBAN: ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma and French armsmaker Thint had been granted leave to appeal a Durban High Court ruling that Mauritius be asked to provide documents relating to alleged arms deal corruption, SABC news reported yesterday.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) will not oppose the decision, but wants the court to grant an execution order for it to continue efforts to obtain the documents, pending the outcome of the appeal.

The documents the state seeks from Mauritius include the 2000 diary of Alain Thetard, the former chief executive of Thales International's South African subsidiary Thint (Pty) Ltd. It reportedly details a meeting between him, Zuma and convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik. The NPA alleges that an agreement on a R500 000-a-year bribe for Zuma was reached at this meeting.

Judge Phillip Levensohn ruled in favour of granting the letter of request for the documents on April 2. - Sapa

With acknowledgements to Sapa and Cape Times.