Johannesburg - The presidency has failed to file an answering affidavit to a new court application by the Democratic Alliance, the party said on Wednesday.

The presidency had until 16:30 on Wednesday to file a response to the DA's application that it compel the National Prosecuting Authority to produce a "reduced record of decision" related to the dropping of the prosecution against President Jacob Zuma, said DA federal executive chairperson James Selfe in a statement.

Neither presidency spokesperson Mac Maharaj nor Zuma's lawyer, Michael Hulley, could be reached for comment.

"The DA views this in a very serious light," Selfe said.

"Our legal representatives will be following up again first thing tomorrow [Thursday] morning to ascertain the reasons for this failure to comply with the due process of the law."

The NPA has said while the Supreme Court of Appeal had ordered it to furnish the reduced record to the DA, this was contingent on Zuma's lawyers not objecting on the grounds of confidentiality.

Zuma's lawyers did object, so the NPA could not hand the record over. *1

The NPA welcomed the DA's court challenge as the appropriate forum to determine whether or not the NPA had an obligation to release the transcripts of recordings.

"Once the North Gauteng [Pretoria] High Court makes a pronouncement, the NPA will abide by the decision of the court."

The tapes supposedly contain conversations that alluded to impropriety in the course of the investigation into corruption charges against Zuma in the arms deal case.

The conversations were given as the reason why the case against Zuma was tainted, resulting in charges against him and arms company Thint being dropped *2.

With acknowledgement to Sapa and News24.com.