A prosecutor has declined to press charges against Sunday Times journalist Mzilikazi Wa Afrika, saying he has no case to answer.

The prosecutor in the case against Sunday Times journalist Mzilikazi wa Afrika on Thursday said there was no case against him, the newspaper's lawyer said.

"The prosecutor has said he [Wa Afrika] has no case to answer and that they can't prosecute," Sunday Times lawyer Eric van den Berg told Sapa by phone.

This was said at a meeting between Van den Berg, two prosecutors from the Hawks police unit and the control prosecutor from Nelspruit that took place around lunchtime.

"He should be released immediately but the police refused to release him," said Van den Berg.

"I don't quite know how they are going to carry on, but they are going to carry on."

Van den Berg said Wa Afrika was currently at the office of the Organised Crime Unit in Nelspruit..

Earlier the Hawks said Wa Afrika and two others were to appear in court to face what are still unknown charges.

Wa Afrika was seized by the Hawks yesterday as he was leaving the Sunday Times offices.

The Hawks tried to stop photographers from taking pictures of the arrest.

Wa Afrika was handcuffed and taken to his home, where the police carried out a search, reportedly removing documents and laptops. His car was later searched at the Rosebank police station.

Though Musa Zondi, spokesman for the Hawks, said Wa Afrika was being arrested in his capacity as a private citizen and not a journalist, it is believed that the arrest was linked to a series of stories published on corruption in Mpumalanga.

At the centre is a letter purportedly written by Mpumalanga premier David Mabuza, announcing his resignation to President Jacob Zuma. The letter, allegedly forged, was faxed to Wa Afrika. The Sunday Times, however, never published a story on the letter.

In response to his arrest, the Sunday Times (sister newspaper of The Times) made a direct appeal to Justice Minister Jeff Radebe and police boss General Bheki Cele to intervene.