ANC suspends Zuma pending rape trial

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's ruling ANC has suspended deputy party leader Jacob Zuma pending his trial on rape charges but stopped short of firing him, a move that would have angered his many supporters in the party.

Zuma, an African National Congress (ANC) heavyweight once seen as the frontrunner to succeed President Thabo Mbeki in 2009, was charged with rape on Tuesday following allegations made by a 31-year-old friend. He has maintained his innocence.

The rape charges have fuelled turmoil in a party already already split down the middle by an impending corruption trial against Zuma. His supporters say the graft charges are part of a plot to keep him from becoming leader of the continent's economic powerhouse.

The ANC's National Working Committee, which met in emergency session, said in a statement that Zuma would "not act or pronounce in the capacity of deputy president of the ANC for the duration of this trial".

Zuma had previously said he would quit junior party posts but would not step down as ANC deputy president, a platform from which he could still launch a possible presidential bid.

The ANC said the law should take its course and Zuma should be presumed innocent until found guilty.

The rape charge is the latest setback for Zuma, who was sacked by Mbeki in June after a judge noted a "generally corrupt" relationship between Zuma and a former adviser.

ANC Secretary-General Kgalema Motlanthe told a news conference Zuma would have to drop all ANC work, including that of party deputy president. He presented the move as an agreement with Zuma's wishes to withdraw from party activities.

"The party leadership met Mr Zuma this morning and informed him of that decision and he accepts it," said Motlanthe, who local newspapers suggested could emerge as a new favourite to succeed Mbeki.

But political analyst Xolela Mangcu said the ANC may have made a mistake in suspending Zuma's rather than dismissing him.

"I think the prudent thing to do would be for him to step down as the deputy president of the ANC. What message does this send to the women of this country? This sends a very bad message," he said.

Other observers said the ANC's decision not to dismiss Zuma might be a tactical move to placate his many grassroots supporters, as his suspension leaves the door open to him resuming his political career if the charges prove unfounded.

"It will certainly help to tone down the aggravation and hysteria among (Zuma) supporters that has been problematic up till now ... that has been damaging not only to the ANC but the image of the country," Lawrence Schlemmer, political analyst and director of research group Markdata, told Reuters.

Zuma enjoys broad support within the ANC and the powerful trade union federation COSATU, which has stood by him amid opposition and media demands that he quit.

He also draws support from his Zulu tribe, and his position in the ANC struck a tribal balance in an organisation perceived to be dominated by leaders from the Xhosa tribe of former President Nelson Mandela and Mbeki.

The opposition Democratic Alliance said it was appalled by what it saw as the ANC's failure to send a clear signal on corruption and abuse of women.

"Its attempt to walk on both sides of the street over the Zuma affairs reflects what a sorry spectacle the ANC has become," DA leader Tony Leon said in a statement.

Mbeki, who has repeatedly denied that differences over Zuma have created a factional split in the ruling party, said on Tuesday the affair had been a burden.

"These events ... have been somewhat of a burden, in the sense of the sadness that they have caused and the grief. I think it's been a heavy year from that point of view," Mbeki told local radio station Metro FM in an interview.

- REUTERS