South Africa's former Deputy President Jacob Zuma wants to speed up his corruption trial by separating it from that of the two companies implicated in trying to bribe him, Business Day said, citing court documents.

Zuma, 64, is accused of trying to secure bribes from Thint Holdings Southern African (Pty) Ltd. and Thint (Pty) Ltd. In exchange for helping them win government arms contracts. The companies, units of Europe's biggest military electronics maker Thales SA, are listed as co-accused in Zuma's trial.

Zuma has applied for the case to be dropped and if the High Court refuses he wants to be tried separately, because that would speed up his trial, Business Day said. He has been under investigation for six years.

The former deputy president, who has been trying to resurrect his political career since being fired by President Thabo Mbeki last year after the corruption allegations surfaced, denies any wrongdoing and says there is a plot to discredit him.

He is due to appear in court on Sept. 5 when an application by the state to delay the case will be considered.