Would-be South African president Jacob Zuma appeared in court for a second day today in a bid to get corruption and fraud charges against him dropped.

African National Congress leader Jacob Zuma will today seek to persuade a court to dismiss corruption and fraud charges against him – and remove the last obstacle on his road to becoming South African president.

Newly elected African National Congress President Jacob Zuma today called for unity in his first keynote speech since taking over the reins of the party from President Thabo Mbeki, amid allegations of corruption and growing political tension.

African National Congress president Jacob Zuma will be the party’s presidential candidate next year despite his pending trial for corruption, money laundering, fraud and racketeering, it was confirmed today.