President Jacob Zuma and his "network" have hijacked the judiciary, DA leader Helen Zille said after the Supreme Court of Appeal ordered the release of the so-called Zuma "spy tapes" on Thursday.

"We are all equal before the law. None of us is above the law," she told a crowd outside the court in Bloemfontein, which earlier dismissed Zuma's application to prevent their release.

"The court systems are being hijacked by politicians...read more here: Zuma and his "network" have hijacked the judiciary: Zille