Jacob Zuma, leader of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress, on Monday deployed both his legal team and his party’s political heavyweights in a fresh attempt to scupper corruption charges that are the biggest obstacle to him winning the country’s presidency.

Some 2,000 supporters gathered outside the Pietermaritzburg high court, where Mr Zuma’s lawyers began the latest in a series of pre-trial applications that might serve to prevent a full-blown hearing until after presidential elections due by the middle of next year.