The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said its head Shaun Abrahams will study the judgment which dismissed his application for leave to appeal a judgment setting aside a 2009 decision to discontinue the prosecution of Jacob Zuma.

The Congress of the People (Cope)‚ however‚ said the NPA must get on with prosecuting the charges against Zuma.

Cope said only Zuma and the NPA believed that they would be granted leave to appeal the high court ruling regarding the reinstatement of charges against Zuma.

Also read: NPA head should give Zuma his date in court: DA

In April‚ the full bench of the high court in Pretoria set aside the decision taken by then acting National Director of Public Prosecutions Mokotedi Mpshe in April 2009‚ saying the decision was irrational.

The NPA and Zuma sought leave to appeal against that judgment‚ but the full bench of the high court dismissed their application on Friday.

Mpshe dropped the charges because he believed Scorpions boss Leonard McCarthy had manipulated the timing of when to serve the indictment against Zuma.

Mpshe relied on intercepted conversations between McCarthy and former NPA boss Bulelani Ngcuka — commonly referred to as the Spy Tapes.

In the conversations‚ the two discussed when to serve an indictment against Zuma – before‚ during or after the African National Congress elective conference of December 2007. The indictment was eventually served after the conference‚ after Zuma had been elected ANC president.

Cope said Zuma has wasted millions on legal fees to the detriment of the poor in South Africa.

“Let him not waste another cent. He must man up and face the judges in open court‚” Cope spokesman Dennis Bloem said.

— TMG Digital