In addition to two charges of corruption, sacked deputy president Jacob Zuma faces a third charge of perjury.

This stems from his declaration to parliament that the money he had received from his financial adviser, convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik, was a loan and therefore did not have to be declared in the parliamentary list of members' interests.

But in convicting Shaik, Mr Justice Hilary Squires found otherwise. He decided that about R1.3 million paid by Shaik to Zuma was not a personal loan but a bribe to get the then deputy president to use his name and political influence to benefit Shaik's business empire.

This morning, the Scorpions refused to comment on any additional charges that could possibly be levelled against Zuma.

But when announcing that the National Prosecuting Authority had decided to bring criminal charges against Zuma, spokesman Makhosini Nkosi said that "such charges will be constituted by, among others, two counts of corruption".

A source confirmed the Scorpions had kept the door open for further action against Zuma - and this could be a perjury charge.

Zuma has been waiting for his day in court.

"I welcome this decision as it affords me an opportunity to respond to and clarify the allegations that have been made against me over a period of time," he said yesterday.

Meanwhile, ANC officials said Zuma might have been suspended from the party had he not voluntarily stepped aside from party activities.

ANC spokesman Smuts Ngonyama said the organisation would have been forced to take action against Zuma.

"But at the same time we allow legal processes to take their course. But normally our people offer to withdraw without us taking action"

Ngonyama said Zuma's withdrawal from ANC activities meant he would not address or attend meetings such as the national working committee and national executive committee, or comment on behalf of the ANC.

A source in the ANC's national working committee said Zuma had stepped aside because he realised he was facing yet another embarrassment after he was fired last week.

"His was a move to avert another humiliating situation of being told to go or step aside."

"He tried to resist in government, and what happened? He was not going to risk another blow," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

There was a feeling that disciplinary action would have been considered against Zuma had he not stepped down.

But a senior member close to the ANC's disciplinary procedures disputed this version. "Our tradition has always been that you go to court, be convicted and we deal with you internally."

"Only on serious matters, where a high-ranking leader is facing damaging charges such as child abuse, is the organisation is forced to institute emergency disciplinary action."

"In the case of the deputy president, I don't see anything warranting such measures."

"What if he is acquitted?" the member said.

Elsewhere, the ANC Youth League has insisted there is a political plot against Zuma, despite the ANC's call for an end to such "reckless statements". ANCYL spokesman Zizi Kodwa said the ANC was entitled to its opinion, but the keague firmly believed Zuma was the victim of "a political trial".

Cosatu president Willie Madisha said he was "quite surprised" by Zuma's decision.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and the Cape Argus.