The African National Congress (ANC) on Friday said it “noted” the judgment handed down by a full bench of the North Gauteng High Court in the matter involving the 2009 decision by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to withdraw corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma.

Sitting in the High Court in Pretoria earlier on Friday, Judge Aubrey Ledwaba found that the decision taken by former NPA head Mokotedi Mpshe to drop corruption charges against Zuma in 2009 was irrational. Ledwaba ruled that the matter needed to be reviewed and the withdrawal of the charges was set aside.

The ANC said it was “important to note that the Court did not deal with the merits of any allegations against President Zuma, nor did it make any finding declaring guilt on any matter against President Zuma”.

In a statement attributed to ANC national spokeperson, Zizi Kodwa, the party said: “Today’s judgment was solely a judicial review of an administrative action taken by the NPA as allowed for in our law.”

Opposition parties, the Democratic Alliance, which brought the matter to court, and the Economic Freedom Fighters said the charges should be reinstated immediately.

But the ANC said: “We trust that it shall therefore not be used by any in our society to infer any culpability in any crime or offence by the President.”

The ANC said it had consistently supported the legal maxim that justice delayed was justice denied.

“This 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,” said Kodwa.

“We once again reaffirm our full confidence in our legal system with its adequate and extensive checks and balances designed to protect and promote accountability and transparency.”