The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Friday said it will be writing to the National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Shaun Abrahams, to urge him to serve an indictment on President Jacob Zuma and ensure that he appears in court to answer charges of corruption and fraud.

Reacting to the President and the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) failed Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) bid to stop the charges from being reinstated, DA leader Mmusi Maimane said: “I will be writing to the National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Shaun Abrahams, insisting that Jacob Zuma be served with an indictment, and appears in court at the soonest available date.

“I’m asking Shaun ‘the sheep’ that he must commit to reinstating all 783 charges, and furnish the people of South Africa with a date within which these charges will be processed.

“Advocate Abrahams must give us a response within 10 days. The charges have been formulated, we believe the evidence is ready, and Jacob Zuma must have a trial date at the soonest possible time.”

SCA Justice Eric Leach upheld a high court ruling to reinstate the hundreds of corruption, money laundering, and fraud charges against Zuma. Justice Leach, who only took eight minutes to hand down his ruling, said the manner in which the case was conducted on behalf of the NPA was inexcusable.

Zuma and the NPA asked for leave to appeal a judgment of the Gauteng North High Court last year, which ruled in favour of the DA, setting aside the 2009 decision by the NPA’s former Director of Public Prosecution Mokotedi Mpshe to discontinue the corruption case against Zuma, on the basis of irrationality.

Justice Leach also ruled that the NPA and Zuma must pay costs of DA counsel.