With less than a week to go before the ANC national conference begins and as the controversy regarding the bribery allegations against the party's deputy president Jacob Zuma rages on, the ruling party said while it believes in the integrity of Zuma, no one is above the law.

This startling statement was made by the party's national spokesperson, Smuts Ngonyama, who said although the organisation believed in the integrity of its deputy president, they would not stand in the way of an investigation by the Scorpions into the bribery allegations.

"He (Zuma) needs to explain himself before the appropriate structures of the law. We have no doubt that he will be exonerated ."

Ngonyama added: "Our position is that absolutely no one is above the law, as every citizen should be treated the same (in the judicial process). We however continue to have confidence in the integrity of the deputy president and hope this matter will be dealt with quickly."

Ngonyama's comments come a few days before details of an alleged R500 000-a-year bribe are expected to be revealed in court . The Mail & Guardian, which broke the story on the allegations and that Zuma was being investigated by the Scorpions for an alleged attempt to secure a R500 000-a-year bribe from Thomson CSF (a French defence company), reports that an alleged frontman for the hidden interest is expected to testify on the matter in the coming week.

The paper said accountant Ian Pierce is a director and major shareholder in Futuristic Business Solutions (FBS), an arms logistics company that is also a shareholder in African Defence Systems (ADS) - the firm at the centre of investigations into Zuma.

The M&G reports that court papers show that the Scorpions are investigating FBS for possible covert links with Zuma.

Pierce is expected to appear in the Specialised Commercial Court in Pretoria on Wednesday.

Concern is now growing within ruling party circles that the allegations against Zuma could have far-reaching implications for his standing in the party. Although the ANC has rallied behind him, it remains to be seen how long it is prepared to stand by him.

The DA, whose Western Cape leader Gerald Morkel resigned this week in the wake of the Desai Commission's report, called on President Thabo Mbeki to establish a commission of inquiry to probe Zuma.

DA spokesperson Raenette Taljaard said the inquiry should look into the nature of Zuma's financial relationship with his financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, who is currently facing criminal charges. Taljaard said the allegations against Zuma were very serious and strike at the heart of government.

"South Africa cannot afford to have a cloud of suspicion and questions of corruption hanging over the head of the second most important political office bearer in the country," Taljaard said.

In a letter to Mbeki, the DA said it wants Mbeki to probe the bribery allegations as well as Zuma's relationship with Shaik.

Presidential spokesperson Bheki Khumalo yesterday said Mbeki would respond to the DA letter in the coming days. However, he said the President's Office did not have anything to add to what Zuma's office had already said this week .

Ngonyama, on the other hand, said "it's clear that the Scorpions don't have much evidence against Zuma".

Asked whether allegations against Zuma were timed for the conference and whether they are likely to affect his standing, Ngonyama said: "We don't want to get into speculation on motives for the allegations. We however believe that the allegations against him will not affect his standing within the organisation.

"He is a leader of integrity and we are sure his integrity will remain intact. The current allegations will not influence the conference and will not feature in any deliberations."

With acknowledgements to Jimmy Seepe and City Press.