South African politician Jacob Zuma is making a new push to have a corruption case against him thrown out on grounds that it is politically motivated, the Star newspaper reported on Friday.

Zuma wants a review of his case, arguing that President Thabo Mbeki's suspension of the senior state prosecutor, in what media said was a move to protect his ally national police chief Jackie Selebi, suggests he could fall victim to political motives, it said.

The Star quotes Zuma's lawyer, Michael Hulley, as saying his client had sent a letter expressing "certain concerns" to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in light of the suspension of NPA chief Vusi Pikoli last month.

Zuma also wants input into a review of the graft case.

Hulley and the NPA were not immediately available for comment on Friday.

South African media say Mbeki acted against Pikoli to protect Selebi after an arrest warrant was issued for him for suspected ties to crime syndicates. Selebi has denied any wrongdoing and the NPA is reviewing his case.

A government spokesman said Pikoli's suspension was due to a breakdown in his relationship with the justice minister.

Mbeki is constitutionally prohibited from seeking a third term as South Africa's president but he has hinted he will try to hold on to the party's reins and thereby continue to wield considerable power over its future.

Analysts describe it as a contest of accusation trading and legal manoeuvres that overshadow daunting challenges facing South African leaders.

The country suffers from one of the world's highest crime rates and millions of people still live in grim townships, glaring reminders of the inequalities of apartheid.

The ANC succession debate has plunged the party into some of its worst infighting since it led South Africa to its first democratic elections in 1994, raising concerns that the party may become too divided to govern effectively.

Prosecutors have reopened an investigation that could see Zuma recharged in a politically explosive case linked to a massive arms deal.

They may gain ground after his former financial aide Schabir Shaik lost his final appeal against fraud and corruption charges and a 15-year prison sentence.

In 2005, Shaik was found guilty of trying to solicit a R500 000 a year bribe for Zuma from French arms company Thint in return for protecting it from an investigation into an arms deal.