ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma and French arms manufacturer Thint are to appeal against the Durban High Court's decision over access to documents in Mauritius.

The decision allows prosecutors to ask authorities in Mauritius to release documents about meetings believed to relate to arms deal corruption.

Speaking yesterday shortly after Judge Phillip Levensohn handed down his decision in the Durban High Court, Zuma's attorney, Michael Hulley, said Zuma would lodge an application for leave to appeal within the next week.

Hulley said he had had an opportunity to brief Zuma and the ANC deputy president was "disappointed".

He said it would be "improper and premature" to indicate which points of Levensohn's ruling would be contested in an appeal.

Zuma's legal team has 14 days in which to lodge their appeal and Hulley indicated that it would be lodged during the course of next week.

Should Levensohn reject the appeal, then Zuma can petition the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein.

Ajay Sooklal, the attorney for Thint, also confirmed that the company would lodge an appeal. "We are of the view that the judgment merits an 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, which reportedly details a meeting in March 2000 between him, Zuma and Shaik.

The NPA alleges that an agreement on a R500 000-a-year bribe for Zuma was reached at this meeting. - Sapa

With acknowledgements to Angela Quintal and Cape Argus.