President Jacob Zuma is one step closer to facing hundreds of charges of corruption against him, after the North Gauteng High Court dismissed his leave to appeal to review the decision to drop corruption charges against him in 2009.
The court said the NPA had no grounds to appeal against its ruling that a decision by former NPA boss Mokotedi Mpshe to drop the charges against Zuma were irrational.
Zuma still has the option to petition the Supreme Court of Appeal or Constitutional Court.
Friday’s court decision comes as a blow for Zuma just six weeks before hotly contested municipal polls, though it was widely predicted his application, joined with that of the National Prosecuting Authority, would not succeed.
Leave to appeal was denied by the same court that held in April that JZ should face 783 corruption charges that were withdrawn in 2009, smoothing his path to the presidency.