In a dramatic twist to the corruption case facing African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is preparing to drop all corruption, fraud and racketeering charges against him in the next few days.

Business Day understands the NPA will hold a meeting today to put the final touches to its decision, with the outcome likely to be made public within days by acting NPA head Mokotedi Mpshe.

This decision will have profound implications, both positive and negative, for politics in SA.

The NPA yesterday would not confirm speculation that dropping the charges was imminent, but did not deny it either.

“Mr Zuma’s lawyers made contact with us on Monday. We indicated the NPA is still applying its mind and no decision has been taken,” the NPA’s Tlali Tlali said.

It is understood from sources close to the matter that the long-standing claim of political interference in the prosecution forms a central pillar of the NPA’s about-face, which marks a stunning reversal for the agency which has pursued Zuma for seven years.

The NPA has been in discussions with Zuma’s legal team for several weeks.

Religious and business leaders and taxi associations have also been consulted.

The ANC and its leftist allies, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the South African Communist Party (SACP), have long campaigned for Zuma to be exonerated, saying he was being persecuted.

Coming so soon after the controversial release of Zuma’s former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, the decision will have profound consequences.

On his relationship with Shaik, Zuma insists it was not corrupt.

While opposition parties are likely to insist that the NPA caved in under political pressure, the ANC and its allies will see the decision as a vindication.

With the elections just more than a month away, the issue will be seized on to score political points.

The NPA is likely to find itself under intense pressure to justify its about-turn.

For Zuma and the ANC, however, it would lift a cloud over the ANC president and help smooth his likely path to the Presidency after elections on April 22.

Zuma had been scheduled to go back to court in August.

The move follows a thawing of relations between the parties, stemming from Zuma’s team’s representations.

These have been based in the main on allegations of political interference, which Zuma has expanded on in confidential representations. Other factors are Zuma’s relationship with Shaik and the possible implications for SA should the trial continue, especially after he becomes head of state.

Zuma’s attorney, Michael Hulley, could not be reached for comment yesterday, while ANC spokeswoman Jessie Duarte referred all questions to Hulley.

“This matter is being dealt with by the lawyers. We don’t know anything,” she said.

It is understood the business leaders, thus far unidentified, warned that putting a president on trial could destabilise the economy. The ANC and its allies argued it was not in the national interest that Zuma be prosecuted, citing potential violence and general instability.

For its part, business has warned that a president on trial would destabilise the economy.

The argument that Zuma was the victim of a political conspiracy forms the basis of the application.

His lawyers have for the first time given a detailed account to the NPA of their charge that state institutions and individuals other than those in the NPA were behind the state’s probe into his affairs.

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