Court hands SA President Zuma another setback
South African President Jacob Zuma listens to a speaker during a sitting of traditional leaders at Tshwane Council Chambers in Pretoria on April 7, 2016. The North Gauteng High Court has reinstated 783 charges of corruption, fraud and racketeering against Zuma that were dropped seven years ago. AFP | PHOTO
What you need to know:
Former National Prosecuting Authority head Mokotedi Mpshe withdrew the charges against Zuma seven years ago.
The Democratic Alliance has since been pushing to have the charges reinstated.
Judges ruled that the prosecutor's decision to withdraw the charges under pressure from Zuma's legal team was irrational.
Last month, the Constitutional Court found that Zuma failed to uphold, defend and respect the Constitution as the supreme law of the land.
IN PRETORIA
South Africa President Jacob Zuma suffered yet another setback when the North Gauteng High Court reinstated 783 charges of corruption, fraud and racketeering against him.
Former National Prosecuting Authority head Mokotedi Mpshe had withdrawn the charges, but for seven years the Democratic Alliance has been pushing to have the charges reinstated.
On Friday, judges ruled that the decision not to pursue the multiple charges against Zuma was irrational.
Justice Aubrey Ledwaba said Mr Zuma's legal team was pressuring Mpshe for answers ahead of Zuma's inauguration and therefore found his decision not to prosecute irrational.
"We found that Mpshe found himself under pressure and made an irrational decision not to charge Zuma," the judge said.
Mpshe decided to drop the charges, citing abuse of prosecutorial processes.
Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane on Friday welcomed the judgment, adding that the court's decision shows that Zuma is not fit to be the president of the country.
"We welcome the fact that he will have what he has always asked for, his day in court.”
Last month, the Constitutional Court found that Zuma failed to uphold, defend and respect the Constitution as the supreme law of the land.
He was ordered to pay back the money spent on non-security upgrades to his Nkandla home in KwaZulu-Natal province.
The National Treasury was given 60 days to determine a reasonable amount that Zuma should pay back.
He will then have 45 days to pay the final amount.
