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| Zuma graft decision due on Monday | Zuma graft decision due on Monday |
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| South African prosecutors say they will announce on Monday whether they will drop corruption charges against African National Congress leader Jacob Zuma. | South African prosecutors say they will announce on Monday whether they will drop corruption charges against African National Congress leader Jacob Zuma. |
| South Africa media has been full of speculation that the charges will be dropped but a prosecution spokesman said the decision could go either way. | South Africa media has been full of speculation that the charges will be dropped but a prosecution spokesman said the decision could go either way. |
| Mr Zuma is widely expected to become president after elections on 22 April. | Mr Zuma is widely expected to become president after elections on 22 April. |
| He denies the charges, which relate to a multi-million dollar arms deal, and says they are part of a political plot. | He denies the charges, which relate to a multi-million dollar arms deal, and says they are part of a political plot. |
| Mr Zuma was first charged with graft, money-laundering and racketeering in 2005, but has yet to face trial. | Mr Zuma was first charged with graft, money-laundering and racketeering in 2005, but has yet to face trial. |
| ZUMA TIMELINE June 2005: Sacked as deputy presidentOctober 2005: Charged with corruption December 2005: Charged with rapeApril 2006: Acquitted of rape chargesSeptember 2006: Corruption case collapses December 2007: Elected ANC president; re-charged with corruption shortly afterwardsSeptember 2008: Judge rules corruption case cannot proceedJanuary 2009:Prosecutors win appeal, opening the way for Zuma to be rechargedApril 2009: Elections due Timeline: Zuma's legal problems S Africa's controversial arms deal | ZUMA TIMELINE June 2005: Sacked as deputy presidentOctober 2005: Charged with corruption December 2005: Charged with rapeApril 2006: Acquitted of rape chargesSeptember 2006: Corruption case collapses December 2007: Elected ANC president; re-charged with corruption shortly afterwardsSeptember 2008: Judge rules corruption case cannot proceedJanuary 2009:Prosecutors win appeal, opening the way for Zuma to be rechargedApril 2009: Elections due Timeline: Zuma's legal problems S Africa's controversial arms deal |
| The charges have twice been put on hold - most recently in September 2008, when the judge ruled that there had been political interference in the case while Mr Zuma's rival, Thabo Mbeki, was president. | |
| But the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) successfully appealed and the trial is currently due to start in April. | |
| ANC spokesperson Lindiwe Zulu told the South African Press Agency that Mr Zuma was continuing to campaign for the elections but wanted the matter decided once and for all. | ANC spokesperson Lindiwe Zulu told the South African Press Agency that Mr Zuma was continuing to campaign for the elections but wanted the matter decided once and for all. |
| "The waiting is not a very good thing, the entire NEC [National Executive Committee], the entire ANC, the public is waiting but at the same time we do hope the NPA is delaying because they are really exercising their mind to this," she said. | |
| The NPA last month announced they were reviewing the case against Mr Zuma, following new submissions by his lawyers. | |
| Opposition parties have previously condemned any move to drop charges against the ANC leader, saying it would be a clear interference in the judiciary by the government. | Opposition parties have previously condemned any move to drop charges against the ANC leader, saying it would be a clear interference in the judiciary by the government. |
| The governing ANC faces its biggest challenge since the end of apartheid in 1994, but it is still expected to win the elections, with Mr Zuma widely tipped to win the presidency. | The governing ANC faces its biggest challenge since the end of apartheid in 1994, but it is still expected to win the elections, with Mr Zuma widely tipped to win the presidency. |