The ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Friday responded to the reinstatement of criminal charges against former president Jacob Zuma by saying it wanted to reaffirm its commitment to the principle of equality before the law.

"The ANC reaffirms its confidence in our country’s criminal justice system and our respect for the independence of the judiciary. We equally affirm our commitment to the constitutionally enshrined principle of equality of all before the law," the ANC said.

It asked South Africans to allow the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to do its work after it announced the decision on Friday to reinstate 16 charges, including fraud and corruption, against Zuma.

"Accordingly we call on South Africans at large to afford the NPA space to conduct its work unhindered, we continue to assert the inalienable right of all in our country, including Comrade Jacob Zuma, to be presumed innocent until and if proven guilty."

The party last month ordered Zuma to resign, a year before the end of his second term in office.