Speaking to over 100 students at the University of South Africa, Lekota said he backed Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille's call for a judicial review into the withdrawal of the charges.

"Without batting an eye they must be reinstated. We are in full support of the call for a judicial review of [advocate Mokotedi] Mpshe's decision."

On Monday, acting National Director of Public Prosecutions, Mpshe, announced that charges would be dropped because there had been an internal abuse of process relating to Zuma's prosecution.

The decision was not based on the merits of the case.

"Something wrong was done"

Lekota said it was absurd that because a second crime appeared to have been committed in Zuma's prosecution, that his alleged crimes, which happened many years ago, should suddenly fall away.

"It's absolute nonsense, it makes a mockery of justice."

He said Zuma had "worked together" with convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik around the same time his charges surfaced.

"There can be no debate about the fact that something wrong was done."

Lekota, a past chairman of the ANC, broke away from the party over the way former president Thabo Mbeki was forced to resign following a court judgment relating to Zuma.