Jacob Zuma, leader of South Africa?s ruling ANC, appeared in court yesterday in a bid to win the dismissal of a graft case that could stop him becoming president next year.

Zuma denies charges of corruption, fraud, money-laundering and racketeering and says he will step down if convicted. The case is likely to decide whether the African National Congress leader succeeds President Thabo Mbeki next year. Over 1,000 Zuma supporters rallied in Pietermaritzburg at a hearing in the city?s high court, hoping to stop state prosecutors putting him on trial later this year.

A long trial could mean Zuma?s case overlaps with general elections in 2009, increasing political instability in Africa?s biggest economy. Zuma?s strong union links are a concern for some investors, who prefer Mbeki?s pro-business tilt. Zuma?s lawyer, Kemp J. Kemp, argued in court that South African authorities had not followed constitutional procedures in the case. Zuma?s supporters say the charges are politically motivated.

He is accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from French arms firm Thint and his financial advisor. Zuma won the ANC leadership last December from Mbeki, who fired him as deputy president in 2005 after he was implicated in a corruption case in which his former financial adviser Schabir Shaik was convicted. Charges against Zuma were dismissed for technical reasons.

But the National Prosecuting Authority charged Zuma with corruption again over the case shortly after he took over the helm of the ANC. His supporters say the case is a conspiracy by Mbeki loyalists aimed at derailing Zuma?s political ambitions. ?Throughout the investigation and prosecution of this case the ANC President has had his rights repeatedly violated by institutions of state,? the ANC said in a statement.

Zuma?s supporters stood chanting outside the court house as he appeared smiling for the hearing in a grey suit. ?Zuma is being given a raw deal. He is not corrupted ... If he is not the president, South Africa is going to see an anarchic type of government,? said Jabulani Ndlovu, an unemployed local resident. ?More of persecution than prosecution,? said one placard held up by a Zuma supporter. While the populist Zuma has publicly said he is ready to prove his innocence and go on trial, he has fought hard to quash the case before it reaches a courtroom. He was dealt a blow on Thursday when the Constitutional Court upheld a ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeals that raids on Zuma and his lawyer were valid and that thousands of documents seized could be used against him in a trial.

The Pietermaritzburg hearing is expected to end today. If Zuma loses the appeal, he is likely to ask the Supreme Court to have the corruption case dismissed.