Pretoria - The DA has criticised the ANC in the Free State for putting Deputy President Jacob Zuma at the top of its list of national candidates despite the Scorpions saying they have evidence of corruption against him.

President Thabo Mbeki is listed fourth. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has also been nominated. Northern Cape Transport MEC John Block, exposed for abusing taxpayers' money, tops the provincial list.

"The ANC's message to its leadership is: abuse taxpayers' money and we'll choose you as our candidate for premier," the DA's Free State spokesman Andries Botha said.

With acknowledgements to the Parliamentary Bureau and the Cape Times.