ANC president Jacob Zuma has said that he will not squash criminal charges against him once he becomes president *1, and that the ANC has many leaders who will take over from him if he "goes down".

At a lunch hosted by deputy president Baleka Mbete and attended by captains of industry and the ANC's influential inner circle, Zuma said only "a competent court of law" could change his status as head of state.

According to his senior aide Zizi Kodwa, Zuma said the ruling party would not change the Constitution to protect its leader.

"He was emphasising the principle that even though he will defend himself during the trial, he will not interfere with the rule of law. He said he would go on trial even though it took long (to bring him to court)," Kodwa said yesterday.

Zuma's comments were prompted by business tycoon and ANC leader Tokyo Sexwale who cited how developed countries, like the US and France, have squashed similar criminal charges.

In his reply, Zuma said in some countries, the ruling party or the head of state would have intervened if the party leader was facing criminal charges, but South Africa had shown the tenacity and maturity of its democratic institutions.

Zuma told an ANC caucus dinner on Thursday West African generals told him there would have been a bloodbath in their countries had there been a recall of the state president in the way the ANC dismissed Thabo Mbeki.

Zuma said "if I go down", there were other leaders in the ANC who would steer the ship, implying he was willing to step aside if convicted.

However, with the current tensions in the ANC, it does not seem as if his party deputy - President Kgalema Motlanthe - will succeed him.

Motlanthe did not attend Mbete's lunch nor Zuma's ANC caucus dinner.

While some in the ANC want Motlanthe to return to the Cabinet, he has made up his mind about giving up his position in government.

Motlanthe has already indicated to the ANC leadership that he will not be available to serve in the next Cabinet should the ruling party win the elections.

ANC spokesman Carl Niehaus confirmed that the choice of the country's deputy president remained the prerogative of the president.

Talks within the Zuma camp are that Mbete should continue in her current role after the elections, with some dabbling with the idea of two deputies.