The National Prosecuting Authority denied reports on Wednesday that it is poised to drop all charges against Jacob Zuma, while opposition parties urged it to press ahead with the prosecution of the ANC president.

NPA spokesperson Tlali Tlali told Sapa there is no truth to front-page reports in Business Day and The Star that the body would call off its politically-fraught, seven-year pursuit of Zuma for fraud and corruption in coming days.

"There is no truth in the rumour," Tlali said.

He however went on to add: "The decision has not been taken. The matter is under consideration."

Tlali would not comment on reports that NPA officials would meet on Wednesday to discuss the matter.

"The matter is under consideration"

The Star and Business Day on Wednesday quoted well-placed sources close to the case as confirming it would be dropped.

"Sources say the main reason advanced is that the prosecution does not have a 'winnable case'," wrote The Star.

According to Business Day, the decision to drop Zuma's charges came after a "thawing of relations" between his and the NPA's lawyers. This apparently followed Zuma's expanding on claims of political interference in the decision to charge him.

Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille said after reading the reports, she wrote to acting NPA head Mokotedi Mpshe urging him to deny that he is letting Zuma off the hook, as there was "no good reason" to drop the case.

"If the NPA agrees to withdraw the charges by means of a special, back-room deal with Zuma's legal team, this would create the impression that the NPA had capitulated to political pressure from the ruling party.

"The fact this deal was brokered on the eve of a general election would strengthen that perception," Zille said.

"In the interests of political stability, the NPA must deny the reports about the proposed withdrawal of charges immediately and unequivocally."

Zille recalled that Mpshe is on record as saying in 2007 that evidence against Zuma points "to a case that can be taken to court."

"Since then, the case has been strengthened. Zuma's attempts to prevent 13 documents from being handed over by Mauritian authorities failed last year, and these documents are believed to provide some of the most damning evidence against him."

Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille said dropping the case would send a message that "some are more equal than others".

"If the charges are dropped the biggest casualties will be the visions, the values and the ideals of the struggle, which were to build a democratic society where all of us are equal before the law."

Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi and Allan Boesak, Cope's premier candidate in the Western Cape, both warned that dropping the case would harm South Africa's image.

"My fear is that there might be [a] perception at home and overseas... that political exigencies have overtaken the rule-of-law, i.e. a political solution to a legal question," Buthelezi said.

Said Boesak: "The consequences for South Africa...will be dire and the reputation and credibility of our country tainted substantially both nationally and internationally."

Zuma faces 16 charges - one of racketeering, one of money-laundering, two of corruption and 12 of fraud.

His former financial advisor and convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik's brother Moe, helped to spark reports that the charges would be dropped imminently.

Shaik told students and ANC members at the University of Pretoria on Tuesday: "Many of you will be moved by what I'm about to say, but in the national newspapers that's going to break tomorrow [Wednesday] morning is going to be the following headlines: 'The National Prosecuting Authority has decided not to prosecute Jacob Zuma'."

The United Democratic Movement took issue with Shaik's statement, and said he should be charged for spying if he were privy to such information.

"The UDM condemns Moe Shaik's cynical attempt at forcing the NPA to make an announcement that would suit his personal and political agenda," UDM leader Bantu Holomisa said.

"He implies that he has access to confidential prosecutorial communication. The NPA must refute his assertions and should charge him with illegal espionage and crimen injuria."

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Shaik denied that he had inside information and said he was merely relaying the fact that he had been tipped off by text messages that newspapers were planning to carry reports to that effect.

"I made clear that I did not know whether this information was true or not."

Sapa

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