New allegations against presidential hopeful, Jacob Zuma, have been included in an affidavit before the Constitutional Court, SABC news reports.

African National Congress deputy president Jacob Zuma told SABC news: "Allegations don’t mean the man is guilty until the court says the person is guilty. Whether people are worried about it or not is a different matter. If I’m taken to court and the judge says ’Zuma. We find you guilty’ as I walk out of court I will say to the ANC ’I’m stepping down’".

The affidavit is a response to an application to the court by Zuma and French arms company Thint to appeal the Supreme Court of Appeal’s ruling that the warrants obtained by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) were valid.

Two judges of the Supreme Court of Appeal dissented and the application is based on their views. Zuma also says that his human rights were violated.

Johan du Plooy, a senior special investigator for the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions (Scorpions), said investigations had uncovered substantial new evidence against Zuma, the public broadcaster reported.

In the affidavit Du Plooy stated that the extent and gravity of the charges had overtaken the charges on which Zuma’s confidant, Schabir Shaik, was convicted.

The Scorpions said the warrants were legal and that the only problems were of a technical nature.

The affidavit added that the evidence obtained from documents seized as a result of the warrants, paved the way for them to re-charge Zuma.

It also stated that the documents provided new evidence of fraud and corruption against the deputy president of the ANC.

The Shaik trial uncovered 229 payments to Zuma.

The affidavit said the number of payments now stands at 354. This means the full amount received by Zuma was R4 million, compared to the R1.2 million uncovered in the Shaik trial.

The Shaik trial heard of four instances in which Shaik benefited from his relationship with Zuma. The new evidence suggested an additional 28 instances bringing the number to 32 instances.

The affidavit further claims that Zuma fraudulently failed to declare this income to the SA Revenue Service. The affidavit also alleged that Zuma got money from other sources.

The Scorpions have asked the Constitutional Court to dismiss the application for leave to appeal, SABC news reported.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and The Times.