Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille joined Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille on Monday in calling on the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to continue its case against ANC president Jacob Zuma.

"The NPA must now proceed with instituting corruption charges against Jacob Zuma so that he may have his day in court as soon as possible, because justice delayed is justice denied," De Lille said.

The Supreme Court of Appeal earlier on Monday upheld an appeal by the National Director of Public Prosecutions against a Pietermaritzburg High Court ruling that effectively halted Zuma's graft prosecution.

The High Court ruling was harshly criticised, but the five SCA judges dismissed an application to have a "political meddling" finding scrapped.

However, the NDPP won part of its appeal, which means Zuma, the ANC's choice for president after this year's elections, still faces charges of corruption, fraud, racketeering and tax evasion.

De Lille set off a chain of events when she submitted allegations of corruption in the multi-billion rand arms deal, to Parliament.

Zuma's former financial adviser Shabir Shaik was convicted of corruption and fraud in a subsequent prosecution.

Zuma was implicated, in the judgment read out at Shaik's conviction, and was fired as deputy president before being charged for the first time.

Sapa