President Jacob Zuma has accepted the court ruling that struck down his appointment of Menzi Simelane as national director of public prosecutions, and named Simelane's deputy Nomgobo Jiba to act in the post.
"President Jacob Zuma accepts the decision of the Supreme Court of Appeal which declared the appointment of the National Director for Public Prosecutions, Menzi Simelane, invalid," his office said.
"The President has therefore decided not to appeal the decision."
A letter to the Constitutional Court signalling this decision is dated December 23.
This shows that the president's U-turn came just a day after the government filed papers with the Constitutional Court last week opposing the ruling.
His choice of replacement could prove controversial.
Jiba earlier this month briefly acted as head of the Special Investigating Unit after Willem Heath quit.
But she was abruptly replaced with Advocate Nomvula Mokhatla amid reports that Justice Minister Jeff Radebe had failed to consult Zuma before naming her. Radebe denied this.
Jiba was previously suspended from the National Prosecuting Authority after allegedly assisting a police investigation into her colleague and senior prosecutor Gerrie Nel.
