Popular South African politician Jacob Zuma has been handed back his duties of deputy president of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) a week after he was acquitted of rape charges, a newspaper reported.

The daily Star newspaper reported yesterday that the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) decided to reinstate Zuma to his party role at a Sunday night meeting. It said the case had sharply divided the ANC.

“ANC Deputy President Jacob Zuma will resume his duties for the party with immediate effect,” the Star said. It gave no source for its report and the ANC said it would issue a statement on the subject later yesterday.

Many of Zuma’s rank-and-file ANC supporters have denounced the rape charges as a smear campaign to prevent him from succeeding President Thabo Mbeki in 2009. Zuma said last week he was willing to seek election as South Africa’s next president.