President Jacob Zuma must get what he always wanted, his day in court, Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane said on Friday.

The High Court in Pretoria ruled that former National Prosecuting Authority head Mokotedi Mpshe’s decision in April 2009 to drop corruption charges against Zuma was irrational.

The party welcomed the judgment and said it was significant as it meant that the NPA’s decisions could not be inconsistent with law.

“Ultimately we’ve always maintained that the decision to drop charges against Jacob Zuma was irrational and should not have been discontinued," Maimane told reporters outside the court.

"Those charges must be continued and Jacob Zuma must have what he always wanted, his day in court, and therefore today I think is not only a victory for the rule of law and the Constitution of the republic.

"It’s also a victory for us as a political party in the pursuit of accountability and rule of law in South Africa."

'He must come to court, president or not'

He said it was immaterial whether the charges were reinstated while Zuma was still in office.

"We want to continue this process and we will go the full length. We want Jacob Zuma to come to court and account for the charges."

The charges relate to Zuma’s alleged involvement in the country’s multi-billion rand arms deal.

Zuma’s former financial adviser 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.