The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is studying the judgment in the so-called Spy Tapes matter and will decide on a way forward, it said on Friday.

"The NPA notes the judgment of the Pretoria High Court," it said in a statement.

"After careful consideration of all the relevant points raised in the judgment, the NPA will decide on the way forward."

The High Court in Pretoria on Friday ruled that the decision to discontinue the prosecution against President Jacob Zuma should be reviewed and set aside.

The full bench of the court found Zuma should face the 783 charges of corruption.

In September 2008, Pietermaritzburg High Court Judge Chris Nicholson dismissed criminal charges against Zuma, citing a political conspiracy to influence the case by former president Thabo Mbeki and others.Nicholson's decision was taken to the Supreme Court of Appeal, and overturned. Zuma subsequently appealed this in the Constitutional Court, setting in motion a direct approach to the NPA to make written and oral representations on why the case should be dropped.

On April 6, 2009, then-NPA head Mokotedi Mpshe said recordings of telephone conversations between then-Scorpions boss Leonard McCarthy and former NPA boss Bulelani Ngcuka, showed political interference in the decision to charge Zuma. The two were recorded discussing the timing of bringing charges against Zuma. The charges related to his alleged involvement in the country’s multi-billion rand arms deal. Zuma’s former financial advisor Schabir Schaik was found guilty of fraud and corruption by the Durban High Court in June 2005. He tried to solicit a bribe for Zuma from a French arms company involved in the deal.

On April 7, 2009, the charges against Zuma were withdrawn in the High Court in Durban. Zuma was sworn in for his first term as president in May that year, following general elections.