Zille: Spy tapes ruling important for democracy

Bloemfontein - DA leader Helen Zille on Thursday lauded the Supreme Court of Appeal order that the so-called "spy tapes" be released, after opposition by President Jacob Zuma.

"This is one of the most important days in the history of our democracy," Zille said on the steps of the SCA in Bloemfontein after the order was made on Thursday.

Within five days, the National Prosecuting Authority must comply with a 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.