By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says it has received former president Jacob Zuma’s medical records.
The report was filed with the Pietermaritzburg high court on Friday, the NPA said — a week after the legal team failed to file by the initial deadline.
“I can confirm that Mr Zuma’s legal team has filed a medical report that relates to his state of health. It is a confidential document and we will make no further comments until the matter is heard in court,” NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga said.
The court gave Zuma’s lawyers until August 20 to submit a detailed report on his medical condition.
The 79-year-old politician was transferred from Estcourt prison to a military hospital earlier this month, only days before he was set to appear in the Pietermaritzburg High Court to answer to the charges of corruption related to the arms deal.
In terms of the order, a medical practitioner appointed by the state would be given access to Zuma to assess his fitness to attend court and stand trial on corruption charges linked to the arms deal. Zuma is facing 16 counts of fraud, corruption, money laundering and racketeering.
Zuma has been under observation at a military hospital after his admission at the Estcourt prison, where he is serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of the Constitutional Court ruling that he present himself before the state capture inquiry.
The corruption trial, which involves Zuma and French arms company, Thales, is set to resume on 9-10 September after it was postponed by presiding Judge Piet Koen due to former president being in hospital.