The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) has welcomed the Pretoria High Court judgment in “setting aside the decision not to prosecute President Zuma”.

On Friday, the High Court made a decision to set aside the 2009 decision of then acting National Prosecuting Authority head Advocate Mokotedi Mpshe to not proceed with the prosecution of Zuma on 783 corruption charges brought against him as they were “irrational”.

ACDP spokesperson Steve Swart said the party welcomed the decision, for “at the time, we questioned Mpshe’s decision which was largely based on allegations of abuse of process as revealed in the so-called spy-tapes involving Advocate McCarthy of the Scorpions”.

Swart commended the opposition Democratic Alliance “for its perseverance with this litigation over seven years, notwithstanding the many obstacles placed in its way”.

He said that while ACPD was aware that the judgement would be appealed against in the Supreme Court of Appeal, the party was cognisant that the judgement was “in itself a severe indictment against Mpshe’s decision, which was taken just before the Polokwane African National Congress Annual Conference and which saw President Zuma elected as President”.

Swart noted that while the original prosecution team had a “strong case on the merits”, Zuma should be given the opportunity to answer to these charges in a court of law.

“The judgement will also strengthen calls for President Zuma to stand down, given that these charges will in all likelihood be reinstated.”

Swart said the ACPD called on President Zuma “to do the honourable thing and step down, or be recalled”.