DURBAN – The SACP's first deputy secretary general Jeremy Cronin's comment that the arms deal corruption charges be reinstated against President Jacob Zuma were "misrepresented", the party said on Monday.

Cronin, who is also deputy public works minister, told The Mercury newspaper on Sunday that the 783 charges against Zuma should be reinstated so that the president can clear his name.

This followed the High Court in Pretoria ruling on Friday that former National Prosecuting Authority head Mokotedi Mpshe's decision in April 2009 to drop corruption charges against Zuma was irrational.

The court said Zuma should face the charges.

The SA Communist Party said in a statement on Monday that "comrade Cronin said that the ball was now squarely in the court of the National Prosecuting Authority".

"He said that Friday's judgement had not made any finding against President Zuma. Rather, the finding was against the former head of the NPA, Advocate Mpshe," it said.

"Comrade Jeremy Cronin added that this meant that the NPA was confronted with one of two possibilities – either to provide rational reasons for continuing not to proceed with charges against President Zuma, or, alternatively to proceed with the charges.

"Either way, clear action needs to be taken to remove the cloud that has been hanging over our president and the country.

"The SACP reiterates its position - as correctly articulated by comrade Jeremy Cronin - that justice delayed is justice denied. Looked at in its entirety the case and the manner in which it was handled constitute a case of justice denied."

Mpshe told News24 on Friday that he respected the high court's ruling on his decision.

"The court has spoken. I respect the decision," he told News24 in an SMS.