The Supreme Court in South Africa is expected to rule today in favour of state prosecutors seeking to bring corruption charges against Jacob Zuma, the controversial leader of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and the man most likely to become President in elections later this year.

The National Prosecuting Authority has appealed against a ruling by a High Court judge last September which set aside corruption charges against Mr Zuma on the basis that they were politically inspired and unconstitutional. Sources say indications are that the Supreme Court will now set aside the ruling, opening the way for Mr Zuma to be re-charged on 16 counts of racketeering, corruption and fraud related to his role in a multibillion-pound arms scandal. A general election is due in March or April.

Mr Zuma was sacked in 2005 by then President Mbeki as Deputy President after his financial adviser was found guilty of negotiating backhanders on his behalf. He then faced separate rape charges, on which he was acquitted in 2006 but which his supporters maintained were part of a broader Mbeki-inspired conspiracy to prevent him from becoming President.

The issue ignited a vicious power struggle within the ANC and created the biggest political crisis since the end of apartheid in 1994. Ten days after the initial ruling, Thabo Mbeki was removed from his position as ANC leader by Zuma supporters. Disgruntled Mbeki supporters have since created a rival party to fight the ANC at the election.

Senior ANC figures, already preparing a damage-limitation exercise, say that even if Mr Zuma is re-charged today he will remain the party's candidate at the election. However, his credibility will take another knock if he goes into the campaign with corruption charges hanging over him. Informed ANC sources have suggested that one way out would be some sort of deal with prosecutors, especially as the case is unlikely to come to trial before the election.

Mr Zuma, 66, is planning to approach the Constitutional Court, arguing that the delay in bringing the case to court has infringed his constitutional rights. The populist Zulu politician has made it clear he would step down only if convicted by a court.

The ANC launched its election manifesto on Saturday at a huge rally in the Eastern Cape, with speaker after speaker vowing that the party would crush its new opponents in the Congress of the People (COPE) party, led by the former ANC chairman and Defence Minister, Mosiuoa Lekota.

Zindzi Mandela - Nelson Mandela's daughter - reaffirmed the loyalty of her father in a bid to end speculation that his refusal to comment on current divisions indicated a lack of support for the ANC. She said her 90-year-old father was a “tried, tested and loyal” member of the ANC and “he shall be buried by the ANC”.

Mr Zuma pledged more action to create jobs, improve housing and services for the least well-off, zero tolerance on corruption and more action to bring down some of the worst crime rates in the world.

Given its domination of the South African political scene, the ANC is certain of winning the next election, but there is speculation that it could lose many seats.

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