An indictment served on ANC president Jacob Zuma by the National Prosecuting Authority was part of a "politically inspired campaign" driven by a "political vendetta", key Zuma allies said on Saturday.

Zuma, who under two weeks ago trounced former party president Thabo Mbeki in the battle for the ruling party's top spot, was on Friday served with an indictment to stand trial in the High Court on various counts of racketeering, money laundering, tax evasion, corruption and fraud in August 2008.

The racketeering, money laundering and tax evasion charges were new -- in addition to the arms deal-related fraud and corruption charges which were struck off the court roll by Judge Herbert Msimang in September last year.

Zuma's key allies, the ANC Youth League, the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the SA Communist Party (SACP) on Saturday slammed the charges saying it was driven by a "political vendetta" and it was part of a "politically inspired campaign".

Youth league president, Fikile Mbalula, accused president Thabo Mbeki of being "behind the scenes" in the NPA serving papers on Zuma.

He dismissed the charges as an attempt to prevent Zuma's ascendancy to state presidency in South Africa's 2009 general elections -- a post he was likely to obtain as president of the ruling party.

"The decision to charge Zuma is not a decision by the judiciary, its a decision by the state and the case is being led by Mbeki," youth league president Fikile Mbalula told a press briefing in Durban.

He stressed that the decision was based solely on political interference by Mbeki and former director of public prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka.

"We have consistently said that these trumped-up charges are nothing more than a desperate plot to block Comrade Zuma's ascendancy to the highest office of the land which is driven by a political vendetta.

"This has been confirmed by the fact that the NPA had ample opportunity to reinstate the charges against Zuma before the Polokwane conference," he said.

Mbalula said the NPA instead chose to await the outcome of the conference and then announce their readiness to charge the newly elected ANC president to the media.

"This was well orchestrated and well planned... we will not be fooled."

Presidential spokesman Mukoni Ratshitanga refused to comment on any matter relating to Zuma or any accusations made about Mbeki.

"No comment, no comment," he said.

The timing of the indictment had the "hallmarks of vengeance, deep seated anger and frustration by the NPA and whoever else is behind this", said Cosatu spokesman Patrick Craven in a statement.

"It is clear that Jacob Zuma's human rights, including the right to a speedy and fair trial, have been systematically and grossly violated.

"The only reason to serve the indictment during this period, for a trial that will only commence eight months from now, is that those behind this move aim to disrupt his well deserved rest," Cosatu said.

This reinforced the union's belief that the graft probe against the president was a "politically inspired campaign" using state institutions to settle "factional" disputes within the ruling party.

"We are convinced that Jacob Zuma will not have a fair trial. We are in full support of his lawyer's decision to apply for permanent stay of prosecution."

The SACP said it strongly believed that Zuma could never have a fair trial, given the recent and past behaviour of the NPA.

"The actions of the NPA in the recent period, as well as in the past, have been subject to a lot of speculation over its real intentions on this matter," the party said in a statement.

It criticised the NPA for trying Zuma's case through the media rather than through the due legal process as prescribed by the constitution.

The Young Communist League "noted with disgust" the latest episode in Zuma's legal saga.

"It is becoming clearer and clearer that rule of law has been overtaken by political bitterness, anger and the inability to accept defeat by some who contested for leadership at the previous ANC Conference, and thus, what the members of the ANC could not accept will be forced down their throats through the NPA," it said in a statement.

However, research associate at the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (Idasa), Steven Friedman, said allegations that the charges were part of a "politically inspired campaign" were groundless.

"One can't make that assumption [of political conspiracy] every time a high ranking political official is charged," he said.

Friedman said the timing could as easily have been based on when the information gathering was complete in order to lay charges.

The NPA had warned of the possibility of charges against Zuma prior to the ANC's elective 52nd national conference in Polokwane.

By Saturday afternoon NPA spokesman Tlali Tlali would not comment on the indictment.

"The NPA are not commenting," he said.

Meanwhile, the Saturday Star quoted newly elected ANC secretary general, Gwede Mantashe as saying a meeting of the ruling party's top brass to discuss the matter would take place on January 7.

The Sunday Times reported that a senior ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) member, had hinted that President Thabo Mbeki might be removed from office, at the lekgotla and NEC meeting. *1

It was reported that the member said : "Mbeki might have provoked something that he may not be able to control at the NEC meeting." *2

Hinting at the possible removal of Mbeki from office, he added that: "We've all along said the two centres of power wont work."

With acknowledgement to Sapa.