World Bulletin / News Desk

South Africa's chief prosecutor will say on Friday whether former president Jacob Zuma will face prosecution on corruption charges that haunted much of his term in office.

If Abrahams does decide to pursue Zuma, the former president will likely appeal the ruling on a number of grounds and argue that the decision is illegitimate as Abrahams' own position is uncertain.

In December, the High Court in Pretoria ordered then-deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa to replace Abrahams, ruling that Zuma's decision to appoint him was "null and void" because he was "conflicted" at the time.

If Abrahams decides not to prosecute Zuma, then a number of opposition parties and campaign groups are expected to either appeal the decision or bring their own private prosecution.

"If the National Prosecuting Authority fails to prosecute Zuma, AfriForum's private prosecution unit, under the direction of advocate Gerrie Nel, puts in motion the process of private prosecution," said the campaign group AfriForum, which advocates for its largely white membership, many of whom speak Afrikaans.