CAPE TOWN, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- South African Presidency said on Friday the decision by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) to reinstate corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma was "disappointing."
The decision was also much anticipated, presidential spokesperson Bongani Ngqulunga said in response to the SCA's ruling earlier on Friday.
The SCA reaffirmed an earlier order by the High Court in Pretoria that a 2009 decision to withdraw corruption charges against Zuma was "irrational."
In April last year, the High Court in Pretoria ordered a review of the 2009 decision by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to set aside hundreds of corruption charges against Zuma.
Both the president and the NPA then approached the SCA after the High Court refused the request to appeal.
The SCA said in its Friday ruling that former NPA Director Mokotedi Mpshe had invoked incorrect provisions in considering Zuma's representations to the NPA for dropping the charges.
As such, the decision made to discontinue the prosecution against Zuma is invalid, the SCA said.
In 2009, former NPA director Mokotedi Mpshe controversially withdrew 783 fraud, racketeering and corruption charges against Zuma, thus enabling Zuma to become president.
In its response to the SCA ruling, the Presidency said the effect of the decision is that the only legitimate decision made by the NPA is to prosecute Zuma.
"Importantly, it means that the representations have not been considered and the expectation is that the NDPP (National Director of Public Prosecutions) will now consider these representations under the correct prescripts of the law and make a legitimate decision relating thereto," the Presidency said.
"Any person has the right to make such representations and an expectation that a legitimate decision will be made.
"These representations will be amplified in light of developments in the ensuing period, not least of all are the recent revelations around the integrity of the audit report which underpins the prosecution," said the Presidency.
The SCA's ruling on Friday paved the way for Zuma to stand trial.
The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomed the ruling, saying the judgment "is a win for justice, the rule of law, and for South Africa."
The DA demands that Zuma be served with an indictment and appear in court at the soonest available date.
"If the President is innocent, as he proclaims, he ought to let a trial court decide on his innocence," DA leader Mmusi Maimane said.
