The African National Congress (ANC) said yesterday a committee would compile a "factual" report on SA's controversial multibillion-rand arms deal so the party could decide how best to support its president, Jacob Zuma, in his looming trial on corruption charges related to the deal.

The party's new national executive committee (NEC) also said after its first meeting since the Polokwane indaba last month that Zuma would be the ANC's candidate for elections in 2009.

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said while the party was not trying to reopen the arms probe, it needed a "detailed factual report".

"We don't want thumb sucking, we want to get information from all sources, including official sources," *1 he said.

The NEC's intention to revisit the arms deal could conceivably embroil President Thabo Mbeki and his cabinet ministers in Zuma's legal battle. Zuma's allies have warned that he would not go down alone *2, and Zuma has long threatened that he will spare no one in the government *3.

After Zuma's election as the party's president last month, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) brought 16 charges against him, including racketeering and corruption.

The NEC hit out at the NPA for "violating" Zuma's rights and has questioned whether he will receive a fair trial. The NEC said yesterday it was its "responsibility and duty" to defend the party's leadership.

The eight-member committee to look into the arms deal includes ANC deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe, treasurer Mathews Phosa, and NEC members Jeremy Cronin, Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele, Siphiwe Nyanda, Naledi Pandor, Cyril Ramaphosa and Lindiwe Sisulu. Both Phosa and Ramaphosa have legal experience.

The committee will also consider practical ways in which the party will support Zuma during his trial.

Phosa, who was vocal in his defence of Zuma, said yesterday there were many "inconsistencies" in the NPA's probe of Zuma.

These included an off-the-record briefing *4 to black journalists in 2003 by former NPA boss Bulelani Ngcuka and former justice minister Penuell Maduna, and Ngcuka's statement that there was prima facie evidence *5 against Zuma, but the state case was not winnable *6.

Phosa also lambasted acting NPA head Mokotedi Mpshe for going public about the fact the NPA was planning to charge Zuma again.

Phosa also accused the NPA of "bad faith", saying several legal issues concerning Zuma were still pending and they could affect the charges.

Phosa said the "political spin" on the Zuma case was "undeniable".

"The consistent press leakages in this case ... are aimed at pushing a trial by media ... or a trial in the court of public opinion. It's very odd and improper, it violates due process. It engages the media and the public in findings around the president even before he reaches the door of the court," he said.

Mantashe said: "The ANC seeks no special treatment for its president, only fairness and justice."

When the arms deal was approved, Mbeki was deputy president of the country and also the head of the cabinet committee that dealt with the procurement process.

According to various news reports, Mbeki allegedly met representatives of French arms company Thales, which was then bidding to provide combat software for the navy's new corvettes.

These revelations have given the lie to the government's explanation ­ accepted wholeheartedly by the ANC ­ that the arms deal's "primary contracts" were above reproach and that no significant government official was implicated in any wrongdoing.

An internal ANC probe into the deal would place the NPA under pressure to co-operate with its foreign counterparts, an eventuality that could be very embarrassing for Mbeki.

Despite parallel investigations by German and British authorities into the deal, the government has so far resisted any suggestion that fresh allegations into claims of irregularities into the arms deal require a new probe.

Zuma's trial is not expected to feature in his state of the party message to the ANC, to be delivered on Saturday.

He is expected to focus on social issues such as violent crime, education and health when he addresses the party faithful at a rally to mark the 96th anniversary of its founding in 1912.

With acknowledgements to Karima Brown, Amy Musgrave and Business Day.