Jacob Zuma's advocate has been rebuked by the Pietermaritzburg High Court for submitting an unexpected and lengthy written argument in the state's tussle to obtain documents from Mauritius.

Most of yesterday was spent with prosecutors Billy Downer and Anton Steynberg arguing against defence objections to the state's bid to have Judge Phillip Levensohn sign a letter asking the Mauritian authorities to release documents relating to Zuma's trial.

The documents include the 2000 diary of Alain Thetard, the former CEO of French arms manufacturer Thales International's SA subsidiary, Thint (Pty) Ltd.

When Zuma's counsel, Kemp J Kemp, submitted a new 69-page heads-of-argument, Judge Levensohn exploded.

"What is the point of that? It is discourteous. I am not impressed," he said.

Kemp attempted to argue that precedents had been set in KwaZulu Natal that judges first got a short heads-of-argument and then a long version. "You inconvenience me. I have heard judges complain about this," said Judge Levensohn.

Earlier, Downer had accused Thint and Zuma's legal teams of using "argument, supposition and rumour" to oppose the state's bid to obtain the documents from Mauritius.

He said that despite the defence's assertions that it had "unclean hands", the National Prosecuting Authority had followed the correct diplomatic channels in its bid to secure 13 sets of documents.

Zuma, who was not expected yesterday, made a surprise appearance with current Thint chief executive Pierre Moynot. 

With acknowledgements to Sapa and The Star.