Constitutional Court Battle in South Africa

The Judicial Services Commission has met to consider allegations that a senior judge attempted to influence a hearing into corruption charges against ANC president Jacob Zuma.

The allegations are scheduled to come before the courts in August.

The ANC is determined to do all it can to save its president.

The charges of corruption relate to alleged bribes taken in connection with a giant arms deal.

They have been hanging over Mr Zuma for years and are due to come to court as the country gears up for elections.

But first the Constitutional Court, the highest in the land, must rule on whether raids on Mr Zuma's home by the prosecution were legal.

The issue is now being considered by the Judicial Service Commission, the judicial body that handles complaints about judges.

It includes the chief justice, the president of the Constitutional Court and the minister of justice. On Saturday they decided to hear the complaint.

But the ANC has reacted angrily to the challenge to their leader.

Its Secretary General Gwede Mantashe accused the Court of being part of what he called "counter-revolutionary forces".