S.Africa Court To Set Zuma Trial Date

Mbeki supporters have since formed a dissident party, COPE, which poses the first real challenge to the ANC in 15 years.

A South African high court will set a date on Feb 4 for a corruption trial of ANC President Jacob Zuma following a court decision to overturn a ruling dismissing graft charges, a local newspaper reported on Sunday.

An appeals court ruling earlier this month revived the corruption case against the ruling party leader, opening the way for prosecutors to pursue charges against Zuma months before he is expected to stand for election as the country's president.

His lawyer said last week Zuma had decided to go to the Constitutional Court in a final bid to have the corruption charges against him dropped.

The September ruling that dismissed the graft charges led to the ANC ousting former President Thabo Mbeki, Zuma's longstanding rival, but also split the party which has been in power since apartheid ended in 1994.

Mbeki supporters have since formed a dissident party, COPE, which poses the first real challenge to the ANC in 15 years.

The Sunday Times newspaper said Zuma would appear in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on February 4 when the trial date would be set.