The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) will appeal Friday's court judgment setting aside its corruption charges against African National Congress (ANC) President Jacob Zuma, it announced on Wednesday.

Pietermaritzburg High Court Judge Chris Nicholson found that in terms of the law, Zuma should have been allowed to make representations to the NPA when it decided to make an about-turn on a previous public statement that he would not be charged.

The authority said it had studied Nicholson's judgment and had taken senior counsel's advice.

"Consequently, we have decided to apply for leave to appeal against the judgment."

It added: "The NPA has yet to make a decision on whether to recharge Mr Zuma."

Zuma faced 16 charges which included racketeering, corruption and fraud, while French arms company Thint faced charges of racketeering, corruption and money laundering.

Nicholson made several pronouncements on the independence of the prosecuting authority and agreed with Zuma that there was some merit in his claims of a political conspiracy linked to the investigation against him for allegedly receiving bribes from Thint.

Sapa