Jacob Zuma has escaped disciplinary action by his own party, but the ANC top brass has decided he should suspend his activities as deputy president, despite his vow to carry on.

This follows a meeting of the ANC national working committee last night, in which Zuma's statement yesterday on his role in the party was accepted.

But the committee felt he should go a step further on his leadership role as deputy president by effectively taking a leave of absence, senior party members at last night's meeting said afterwards.

Zuma announced yesterday, soon after appearing in court on a rape charge, that he had voluntarily withdrawn from participation in the national executive committee, the national working committee, meetings of the ANC's top six officials and the national deployment committee, which he chairs.

Zuma said in a statement: "This decision does not affect my position as ANC deputy president."

He said he would "carry on with the general activities of the ANC as expected of all members of our organisation".

Zuma, who has declared he is innocent, was to be informed of the party's decision at a meeting with top officials this morning. He was not at last night's meeting.

It would appear he will therefore not campaign for the ANC in local government elections.

The ANC was to issue a full statement after Zuma was officially informed of the decision.

ANC spokesman Smuts Ngonyama declined to comment until after the meeting of the party's officials.

The party is also expected to recommit itself to the fight against the abuse of women and children.

Yesterday, the ANC Women's League issued a hard-hitting statement in which it called for leadership from the party on this issue.

Although respecting the rights of the perpetrator to be viewed as innocent until proven guilty, the ANCWL urged both the state and society to provide the necessary support to the victim.

This was echoed by President Thabo Mbeki, who said last night that the ANC should support the alleged victim in the same way as it was supporting Zuma.

The Women's League noted that Zuma had once been a leader of the Moral Regeneration Movement, had been the convener of the SA National Aids Council and was the ANC deputy president.

The Women's League said it was its responsibility to raise the fact that "irrespective of a relationship", a "no from a woman means no and that has to be respected".

"Of serious concern is the vulnerability of the victim and the historical relations that both families had."

With acknowledgements to Angela Quintal and the Cape Argus.