Bloemfontein - The seizure of documents from four homes of ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma was based on a "warrantless search", his lawyer argued at the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.

The person being searched had to know what the limits of the warrants were, which was not the case in the Zuma searches, argued his lawyer, Kemp J Kemp.

"The people being searched had no way of saying that you're going outside the limit."

There was some debate between Kemp and judge Robert Nugent over whether documents said to "have a bearing on the investigation" was a clear enough formulation in a warrant or not.

Nugent then asked Kemp whether a warrant written in English and presented to a person who spoke another language could still be executed.

Zuma was whisked from the court when it adjourned for lunch.

From his black 4x4, he waved to a group of singing supporters in front of the court steps. 

With acknowledgements to News24.