Jacob Zuma will be charged before *1 the African National Congress (ANC) national conference, the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) said on Thursday.

The prediction came after the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled against Zuma in his appeal.

"For the past seven years, Zuma has been persecuted, his human rights and dignity have been violated by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

"Throughout, the state maintained and sought to convince the public through propaganda *2 that the NPA had a case against Zuma," president of the ANCYL Fikile Mbalula said.

"The ruling has no legal or political bearing on our support for him to be elected the president of the ANC at the forthcoming national conference.

"We are being tested and we will stand our ground in backing Zuma; we are fighting injustice and prejudice".

Mbalula said the ruling did not prohibit Zuma from standing for election at the ANC national conference.

"He will enter the conference as an accused and not as convicted. We will continue to believe in the innocence of the ANC deputy president as enriched *3, guaranteed and protected under the Bill of Rights.

"For too long we had to endure from the NPA statements such as 'We are ready, There is a prima facie case ... we've got a case and we will charge,'" he said. *4

The ANCYL maintained its position of rejecting two centres of power, saying this situation would not be good for a strong ANC.

With acknowledgement to Sapa.