Last week’s judgment in the North Gauteng High Court in the spy tapes case, means that 783 charges against President Jacob Zuma have been automatically reinstated, the Democratic Alliance said on Tuesday.

The official opposition party, which successfully sought a review of the 2009 decision to withdraw the charges, said in the light of legal precedent and advice from its lawyers, the National Prosecuting Authority now had no choice but to proceed with the case against the president.

“Upon seeking a legal opinion and further reading of last week’s North Gauteng High Court ruling; it has become clear that the charges that were erroneously dropped by the NPA in 2009 are automatically reinstated and the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Adv Shaun Abrahams, is duty-bound to proceed with the prosecution,” said James Selfe, the chairperson of the party’s federal executive.