Jacob Zuma's love child, Edward, will come under scrutiny when charges of rape and assault dropped against him five years ago will be reviewed by the KwaZulu Natal Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) - but only after the police find the lost case docket.

A prosecutor in the DPP's office confirmed that the case could be re-opened after it had been reviewed, but said "We can't do anything until we have actually seen the police docket.

"Yes, we want to have another look at the case. But the police are still looking for the docket. Until they have found it, our hands are tied," the prosecutor said.

Last month, Edward became the centre of attention at his father's Johannesburg High Court rape trial when it was revealed he was the son of Jacob Zuma and Minah Shongwe. Minah, in turn, is the sister of Transvaal Deputy Judge President Jeremiah Shongwe, who recused himself from the trial because of the connection.

In 2000, Edward, who was a second-year law student at the time, was arrested for allegedly raping and assaulting a 17-year-old girl.

But before the trial could be heard, the girl withdrew the charges, saying she would not be able to stand the trauma of a trial. A few days later the prosecution announced that it, too, was withdrawing the charge against Edward on instruction from the regional prosecuting authority.

It later emerged that Jacob Zuma's then personal adviser, Schabir Shaik, had allegedly intervened and the girl was then allegedly paid off to change her story. The rape complainant was alleged to have received thousands of rands each month.

With acknowledgements to Kashiefa Ajam and Saturday Star.