Johannesburg – The Office of the President on Friday responded to the Pretoria High Court ruling that the withdrawal of corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma was “irrational” and that it be “set aside”.
Judge Aubrey Ledwaba on Friday morning found that the decision taken by former National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) head Mokotedi Mpshe to drop corruption charges against Zuma in 2009 was “irrational” and should be “reviewed and set aside”.
The matter often referred to as the “Spy Tapes” saga was brought to court by the Democratic Alliance.
#Spytapes case: Court rules that Zuma charges be reviewed
The Presidency responded saying: “Today on 29 April 2016, the full bench of the North Gauteng High Court delivered judgement in a matter in which the Applicant asked the court to, amongst others, review, correct and set aside the decision of the Acting National Director of Public Prosecutions (Adv Mpshe), taken on the President, in accordance with charges contained in an indictment of 27 December 2007 and also to declare that the decision of the Acting National Director of Public Prosecutions to be inconsistent with the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, and invalid.”
The Presidency added: “The court has ordered that the decision taken by the Acting Head of the National Prosecuting Authority on 1 April 2009 to discontinue the prosecution against President Jacob Zuma, is reviewed and set aside.
“These charges were formally withdrawn by the High Court in Pietermaritzburg during April 2009 and as such there is no pending litigation before court against President Zuma.
“As a 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”.
African News Agency
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