On Monday, the Hawks finally served Zuma with a summons to appear in the Durban High Court on April 6, his lawyer Michael Hulley confirmed to The Star on Monday night.

But Hulley was quick to point out that they were challenging National Prosecuting Authority boss Shaun Abrahams’ decision to reinstate the charges against Zuma.

“I confirm that the summons has been received and that we are preparing an application to review the NDPP’s (National Director of Public Prosecutions’) decision to prosecute (Zuma),” Hulley said, without providing any further explanation.

Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said a summons was also served yesterday on Zuma’s co-accused, French arms company Thint, “whose lawyers are in Cape Town”.

With regard to opposing the summons, Mulaudzi said all the matters would be ventilated in court.

“It is their (defence lawyers’) job On April 6, the accused will be formally charged,” he said.

The Hawks have moved swiftly since Zuma lost power to President Cyril Ramaphosa and was subsequently pushed from the Union Buildings.

At the weekend, the City Press reported that the elite crime-fighting unit was investigating allegations that Zuma had received a R1million bribe from from a Western Cape abalone dealer in exchange for not firing Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Senzeni Zokwana.

Cosatu president S’dumo Dlamini, an ally of Zuma, and Zokwana are being investigated by the Hawks for allegedly receiving R300000 in kickbacks from the same businessman.

In 2009, then acting NPA head Mokotedi Mpshe took the decision to drop the case against Zuma who was the ANC president at the time.

Mpshe’s decision was found to be unlawful and irrational by both the North Gauteng High Court and the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Zuma and Thint have both been served with summonses to appear in the Durban High Court, and they will not be required to apply for bail.

Thint allegedly paid Zuma R500 000 to protect the company from any arms deal investigations.

The State believes that that money was to be used to pay for Zuma’s Nkandla renovations.

Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal church leaders, who support Zuma, said on Monday that they would be at court to pray for him during his difficult time.- IOL