Johannesburg  - South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) leader Jacob Zuma was back in court again Wednesday in the eastern city of Pietermaritzburg over a long-running corruption case that has muddied his path to the presidency.

Zuma slipped in through a back door into Pietermaritzburg High Court, which is expected to set dates in his trial for alleged corruption, racketeering, money laundering and fraud relating to a 1990s state arms deal.

The ANC said it was his 38th court appearance in at least 7.5 years in connection with the case.

The charges against Zuma were reinstated in January when an appeals court quashed an earlier ruling by the Pietermaritzburg court, which found that prosecutors did not follow due process in indicting him in 2007.

A first corruption trial against Zuma was thrown out of court in 2006 because of delays by the prosecution in presenting evidence.

Any new trial is not expected to begin until after this year's general election, which the ANC is expected to win.

Zuma is the ANC's choice to become president after the vote, meaning South Africa faces the embarrassing prospect of its leader being tried for corruption while in office.

The ANC has accused state prosecutors of hounding Zuma by doggedly pursuing the case, which centres around payments totalling 4 million rand (580,000 dollars) he received over a ten-year period from a former advisor. That ex-advisor is currently serving time for fraud in the arms deal.

Critics reply that Zuma himself is largely to blame for the delay because he kept approaching the courts on different points of law to try to avoid the case going to trial.

On Wednesday, he is expected to apply for a permanent stay of prosecution. The court may also, at the same time, fix a trial date.

Hundreds of ANC supporters gathered outside the courthouse in Pietermaritzburg in rainy conditions to show their backing for the popular Zulu politician, as has been customary throughout his court appearances. Several ANC top brass were also on hand.

The party had said it expected at least 15,000 supporters. More people were expected to arrive throughout the day. (dpa)