Appeal court rules Zuma must release the 'spy tapes'

28 August 2014 - 11:30 By Sapa, Times LIVE
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President Jacob Zuma. File photo
President Jacob Zuma. File photo
Image: THEMBINKOSI DWAYISA

The Supreme Court of Appeal on Thursday dismissed President Jacob Zuma's application to prevent the release of the so-called 'spy tapes'.

Within five days, the National Prosecuting Authority must comply with the previous court order, in an application brought by the Democratic Alliance, to release the tapes.

The actual recordings, internal memoranda, reports and minutes of meetings dealing with the contents of the recordings must be provided.

Conversations on the recordings were cited as a reason to drop fraud and corruption charges against Zuma, shortly before he was sworn in as president in 2009.

At the time, acting NPA boss Mokotedi Mpshe said they showed there was a political conspiracy against Zuma and so the case could not continue.

The DA applied for access to the tapes and in spite of winning previous court cases could not obtain them.

Zuma's legal team had argued in the latest application that the DA would use them against him for political gain.

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