In a constitutional court petition seen by Reuters, the “state capture” investigation seeks an order that Zuma is guilty of contempt of court for failing to appear last week or providing statements when instructed to do so.
Zuma denies any wrongdoing and did not cooperate with the investigation.
His non-appearance last week came despite the fact that the inquiry had summoned him to appear and the constitutional court instructed him to comply with the summons and testify.
Zuma’s lawyer, Eric Mabuza, was unavailable when he called Reuters for comment.
The charges against Zuma include that he allowed businessmen close to him – 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 deposed in a lawsuit orchestrated by allies of his successor Cyril Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa has been trying to restore investor confidence in Africa’s most industrialized nation. However, he faced opposition from a faction within the governing party, the African National Congress, which is still loyal to Zuma.