S.Africa court rules chief prosecutor's appointment 'invalid'

South Africa's top court today ruled that the country's chief prosecutor had been incorrectly appointed and ordered that he be replaced, a decision that adds to criticism of former president Jacob Zuma's record in office.

The Constitutional Court ruled that Shaun Abrahams had been named to the job after his predecessor, Mxolisi Nxasana, had been ousted by Zuma in a "constitutionally invalid" process entailing a large compensation package.

Shaun Abrahams was named director of public prosecutions by Zuma in 2015. He has often been accused of allegedly protecting Zuma and his associates.

"Advocate Shaun Abrahams is a beneficiary of an abuse of power. It does not matter whether he was part of the abuse of power," Judge Mbuyiseni Madlanga said, reading the court's judgement.

The ruling was seen as a boost for President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has vowed to tackle government corruption that he has admitted was a serious problem during Zuma's nine-year reign.

Zuma, 76, was forced to resign in February as criticism grew from within the ruling ANC party over multiple corruption scandals.

The former president has been charged with 16 counts of graft linked to an arms deal from before he became president and could face trial later this year.