The South African Communist Party (SACP) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) yesterday welcomed the decision by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to charge former deputy president Jacob Zuma, but said the decision should have been made two years ago.

Leaders of Cosatu and the SACP have been at the forefront of Zuma’s fightback since his axing from cabinet by President Thabo Mbeki last week.

SACP deputy general secretary Jeremy Cronin said the party was saddened at the turn of events, but the decision to charge Zuma was “both logical and necessary”.

“We trust that a court trial will shed light and bring finality to this matter. In many respects the NPA’s announcement is a step that should have been taken some two years ago.”

Cronin said the announcement by former NPA head Bulelani Ncguka that the NPA had prima facie evidence against Zuma, but not a winnable case, had placed “Comrade Zuma, the government and the organisations in which he served in an untenable situation”.

Cronin said the SACP hoped that a “credible” judicial process would take place.

He was also quick to point out that the SACP had never formally supported Zuma as its preferred candidate in the African National Congress (ANC) succession race.

Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said charging Zuma was “far better” than the situation that had prevailed for years, with no charges being brought against Zuma while his name was tarnised.

Vavi said only now was it justifiable to ask Zuma to stand down as deputy president of the country to protect the integrity of his former office.

Zuma remains deputy president of the ruling ANC. Alliance leaders would not be drawn on whether the time had come for Zuma to step down as deputy president of the ruling party.

With acknowledgements to Karima Brown, Vukani Mde and the Business Day.