A special meeting of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) was held in Pretoria yesterday to finalise its response to representations by African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma.

It is understood that fraud, corruption and racketeering charges against Zuma will be dropped, with the NPA saying it was treating the matter with “utmost urgency”.

NPA acting head Mokotedi Mpshe is likely to make an announcement within days.

The NPA has refused to confirm or deny rumours about the charges, saying it needed to deal with additional information from Zuma first before making an announcement on the matter.

“We have recently been supplied with additional information by Mr Zuma’s lawyers which has necessitated further investigation, verification, and careful consideration,” NPA spokesman Tlali Tlali said.

Yesterday’s meeting at the NPA’s head office in Pretoria included Mpshe, senior management and the team responsible for Zuma’s prosecution.

Sources close to the process told Business Day that the media frenzy about the matter was unlikely to sway the decision and that “everything was on track”.

Zuma’s representations to the NPA have included the nature of the relationship with his former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, details of how state institutions were politically manipulated, and arguments by the ANC, its allies, business and religious leaders and taxi associations that Zuma’s continued prosecution is not in the national interest and could threaten stability.

As speculation about the NPA’s reasons for dropping the charges continued, the authority urged the public to give it time to conclude its business.

“We would like to urge all, media included, to exercise patience and allow space for this process to be concluded,” Tlali said.

He was tight-lipped about the details of yesterday’s discussions.

Zuma’s legal team first engaged the NPA on the question of representations just before Judge Chris Nicholson’s ruling which vindicated Zuma’s contention that he was the victim of a political conspiracy. The ANC recalled former president Thabo Mbeki shortly thereafter, which led to senior members quitting the party and forming the Congress of the People.

While Nicholson’s judgment was overturned on appeal, the arguments about a conspiracy remained the basis for Zuma’s application for a permanent stay of prosecution ­ to be heard in August ­ and was part of his representations to the NPA.

The NPA has had to fend off assertions that it was a puppet in the hands of Zuma’s enemies *1 when it started its probe into his affairs. Now it has to explain the reasons for dropping the case as its reputation is on the line.

The irony is that while opposition parties will accuse the NPA of giving in to political interference, some of its reasons for dropping the case will point to political meddling under the previous administration.

With acknowledgements to Karima Brown, Hajra Omarjee and Business Day.