A South African court has rejected a bid by controversial politician Jacob Zuma to block the state from investigating his business activities in Britain, prosecutors said yesterday.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Tlali Tlali said he was encouraged by the ruling, which could help the state re-charge Zuma in the arms corruption case which was thrown out of court last September.

"I don't think it would be proper for us to disclose the nature of the information we are seeking in the UK, but we are confident that the investigation will yield results," he said.

In June, a South African court granted the state permission to obtain documents from Mauritius in connection with the arms case.

With acknowledgement to Reuters and Cape Argus.