The African Christian Democratic Party on Wednesday called for suspended National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) head Vusi Pikoli to be reinstated, following Judge Chris Nicholson's judgment last week.

"While we appreciate that the judgment of Judge Chris Nicholson may be the subject of an appeal, his finding that there was a pattern of political interference in the NPA is disturbing and must be urgently addressed by Parliament," ACDP spokesperson Steve Swart said.

Declaring the NPA's decision to re-charge ANC President Jacob Zuma invalid, Nicholson had pointed out the independence of the judiciary was directly related to, and dependent on, the independence of the legal professions of the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions (NDPP).

Undermining this freedom from outside influence would lead to the entire legal process — including the functioning of the judiciary — being held hostage to those interests that might be threatened by a fearless, committed and independent search for the truth, Nicholson said.

He found there should be no relationship between the National Director and the Minister of Justice, "certainly insofar as his decisions to prosecute or not to prosecute anybody from the Commissioner of Police downwards", and "the suspension of the National Director was a most ominous move that struck at the core of a crucial state institution".

Swart said, in view of this finding, it was clear that the Ginwala Inquiry into Pikoli's fitness to hold office was important, should it highlight President Thabo Mbeki and Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla's political interference in the NPA.

Otherwise, in terms of Pikoli's fitness to hold office, it had become irrelevant.

"How can it inquire as to whether there was a breakdown in relations between the National Director and the Minister of Justice resulting in Advocate Pikoli not being fit to hold the position of National Director, if there should not have been such a relationship in the first place," Swart said.

"The ACDP consequently calls for the immediate reinstatement of Advocate Pikoli as the National Director of Public Prosecutions."

The ACDP also intended to recommend that parliamentary oversight be strengthened to ensure there was no political interference from the side of the executive in the exercise of prosecutorial discretion of the NPA.