African National Congress (ANC) deputy president Jacob Zuma will this week attempt to clear the only significant hurdle blocking his ascent to the ANC leadership when his corruption trial gets under way in the Pietermaritzburg High Court tomorrow.

Zuma faces two counts of corruption together with his co-accused, French arms company Thint. A high-powered team of defence lawyers and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) will face off in court this week when Judge Herbert Msimang hears arguments following the state’s application to have the case postponed until February.

Zuma’s lawyers have linked delays in his trial to his political fortunes in the ANC and argue that another postponement will dent his chances of succeeding President Thabo Mbeki as ANC president next year.

Nevertheless, Zuma continued to consolidate his base in the ruling tripartite alliance at the weekend when his supporters trounced pro-Mbeki unionists at the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) congress. Sadtu is Cosatu’s largest affiliate after the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), which has also expressed support for Zuma.

Sadtu president Willie Madisha, believed to be close to Mbeki, fought for his political life at the congress as pro-Zuma loyalists in Sadtu managed to secure a majority in the executive in tightly contested elections.

Madisha cut a lonely figure after his allies in Sadtu were trumped by vocal Zuma loyalists led by Sadtu general secretary Thulas Nxesi.

Following Zuma’s grand appearance at the congress amid an attempted gag by ANC officials, which was tacitly supported by pro-Mbeki factions in Sadtu, Madisha hit back yesterday and accused his comrades of having betrayed him. Madisha was at pains to reaffirm his support for Cosatu’s support of Zuma.

“It’s painful. I feel really sold out by some of my comrades. I am not a pro-Mbeki or pro-Zuma man. In fact I am pro the ANC and the revolutionary alliance. This is a personal attack,” Madisha told Business Day yesterday. He also poured cold water over speculation that his career in Cosatu was coming to an end following reports that he was about to join former Cosatu vice-president Joe Nkosi, who resigned dramatically on Friday and has subsequently been embroiled in an alleged spy saga involving the general secretary of the South African Communist Party, Blade Nzimande.

Madisha confirmed that he would contest Cosatu elections in two weeks.

“I have been nominated by five unions so far, so I am not resigning — that is sheer madness,” Madisha said.

Madisha’s defiant stance is likely to increase tensions between him and Cosatu secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi, who has thrown in his lot behind Zuma. This week an important Cosatu committee comprising the presidents of six affiliates will finalise its report into what led to the breakdown in the relationship between the two Cosatu leaders and recommend a way forward. It is understood the same committee will lead investigations into the spy claims against Nkosi.

Yesterday Madisha and Vavi confirmed they had received a letter and affidavit from Nzimande implicating Nkosi, who allegedly offered Nzimande’s driver-cum-bodyguard money in return for spying on his movements and reporting on who he meets regularly.

With acknowledgements to Karima Brown and Business Day.