CAPE TOWN, March 16 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Friday welcomed a decision by prosecutors to reinstate charges of corruption against former president Jacob Zuma.
This came hours after the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) announced this decision in Johannesburg.
"The ANC reaffirms its confidence in our country's criminal justice system and our respect for the independence of the judiciary," ANC Secretary General Ace Magashule said in a statement emailed to Xinhua.
"We equally affirm our commitment to the constitutionally enshrined principle of equality of all before the law," Magashule said.
Magashule also said the ANC continues to assert the inalienable right of all in the country, including Zuma, "to be presumed innocent until and if proven guilty."
The decision to charge Zuma was announced by NPA head Shaun Abrahams, who said to have notified Zuma of the decision.
"I am of the view that there are reasonable prospects of a successful prosecution of Mr. Zuma," Abrahams said.
According to Abrahams, Zuma disputes all the allegations against him and said he lacked intention to commit any of the crimes listed in the indictment.
Zuma faces 18 charges of corruption, money laundering and racketeering in relation to an arms deal dating back to the late 1990s.
The multi-billion-dollar deal involved the purchase of military equipment from Europe.
