Embattled ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma will be part and parcel of the party's electioneering strategy for the local government elections after all, according to the party's secretary-general - an apparent departure from an earlier ANC statement.

Following Zuma's December 6 appearance in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on a charge of raping a 31-year-old Aids activist, the party's national working committee held a crisis meeting at which it decided to prevent him from pronouncing on its behalf, participating in its activities or speaking in his capacity as its deputy president until the courts cleared him of the rape allegations.

Zuma, who is out on R20 000 bail, will appear in court for the rape charge on February 13.

On July 31, he will also defend himself against two counts of corruption following a finding by Durban High Court Judge Hillary Squires that he had a "generally corrupt" relationship with his former financial adviser, convicted fraudster Shabir Shaik.

ANC secretary-general Kgalema Montlanthe told the Cape Argus last night that Zuma would indeed campaign in his capacity as an ANC member but under stringent conditions.

Zuma would have to foot his own travelling and hotel bills should he decide to campaign.

He would also not be leading the party's election campaign in KwaZulu-Natal and he would not be allowed to address ANC members or speak on behalf of the party in any of its election rallies around the country.

Montlanthe said Zuma would be in Cape Town on Sunday where the party would officially launch its election campaign.

This would coincide with a party statement in which it is expected to lay out its theme and reveal its programme of action for the year.

"He remains a member of the ANC and, as such, he is expected to campaign because we expect all our members in all parts of the country to vigorously campaign for the ANC ahead of the municipal elections," Montlanthe said.

"He will be in Cape Town when we launch the election campaign on Sunday," he added.

He would not be drawn into how Zuma and ANC KwaZulu-Natal chairman S'bu Ndebele, seen as a close supporter of ANC president Thabo Mbeki, would work together during the election campaign.

With acknowledgement to the Cape Argus.