President Jacob Zuma has noted a decision by the High Court in Pretoria to set aside a decision by the National Prosecuting Authority to drop corruption charges against him in 2009, the Presidency said on Friday.
“As party to the proceedings, the president has noted the decision of the court and will give consideration to the judgment and its consequences and the remedies available in terms of our law,” the Presidency said.
A full bench of the High Court in Pretoria found that the decision to drop 738 corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma in 2009 was irrational.
Proceedings had centred on the so called “spy-tapes,” secret recordings of then Scorpions head Leonard McCarthy, which raised questions of political motive behind the charges.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), which initiated court proceedings in 2009 described the ruling on Friday as “an overwhelming victory for the rule of law”.
“Since the DA first took this matter to court in 2009, we have maintained that the decision taken by the then acting National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Mokotedi Mpshe, to drop these charges was irrational, unreasonable and made with an ulterior political motive,” DA leader Mmusi Maimane said.
“Today’s finding by a full bench of the North Gauteng High Court substantiated our contention,” the DA said.
The African National Congress (ANC) on Friday noted the judgment, adding “it is important to note that the court did not deal with the merits of any allegations against President Zuma nor did it make any findings declaring guilt on any matter”.
The ANC said it trusted the judgment would not be used to infer culpability, adding that the matter “has dragged on for close to a decade and the ANC is pleased, therefore, that it now appears closer to resolution, seven years since the NPA decision”.
