In a request filed by Reuters in the constitutional court, the investigation into “state capture” calls for an order that Zuma be found guilty of contempt of court for failing to appear last week or giving affidavits when be instructed.
Zuma denies the offenses and has not cooperated with the investigation.
He did not appear last week despite the investigation summoning him to appear and the constitutional court instructed him to comply with that summons and testify.
Zuma’s lawyer Eric Mabuza was unavailable when Reuters called to ask for comments.
The allegations against Zuma include that it allowed close businessmen – brothers Atul, Ajay and Rajesh Gupta – to plunder state resources and influence politics.
The Guptas, who also deny wrongdoing, left South Africa after Zuma was fired for a play orchestrated by the allies of his successor Cyril Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa has been trying to restore investor confidence in Africa’s most industrialized nation. Still, he has faced opposition from a faction of the ruling party of the African National Congress that is still loyal to Zuma.