JOHANNESBURG: South Africa's presumed president-in-waiting was in Mauritius yesterday in connection with the corruption charges he faces.

His lawyer, Michael Hulley, confirmed by telephone from the island that ANC leader Jacob Zuma was meeting legal representatives about documents held in Mauritius alleged by South African investigators to prove that payments were solicited from arms company Thompson-CSF, later known as Thales and, in South Africa, now as Thint.

"Unfortunately, I can't give further details," Hulley said.

Zuma was charged with corruption, money laundering, fraud and racketeering in relation to an alleged multimillion-dollar arms deal scandal a week after he was elected leader of the ANC in December. He is to stand trial in August.

Zuma is accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of rands from the French arms company in return for protection during the investigations into South Africa's arms deal.

The Supreme Court of Appeal ruled in November that the State could go ahead with a request to the Mauritian authorities for access to the documents.

Zuma and Thompson-CSF hope to prevent the State doing so.

A two-day court hearing on the issue is to begin on March 11.

Zuma would be on the island for a "brief period", Hulley said.

He declined, for "security reasons", to give other details of his visit. - Sapa-AP

With acknowledgements to Sapa and Cape Times.