The National Prosecuting Authority said it would release a statement later on Tuesday following a marathon meeting on whether or not to drop the charges against ANC president Jacob Zuma.

There was no announcement yet, said NPA spokesperson Tlali Tlali.

The two day meeting comes after the authority received representations from Zuma's lawyers which they hoped would help reverse the decision to take him to court in August.

Zuma faced 16 criminal charges, including one of racketeering, one of money-laundering, two of corruption and 12 of fraud.

Earlier, Zuma was waiting, like the rest of South Africa, to hear whether the National Prosecuting Authority would drop charges.

"... the fact that I submitted or made submissions to the NPA is a well-known fact and the fact they will review my submissions is a well-known fact," he told a business breakfast in Auckland Park, Johannesburg.

"What we did not know, what was going to be their decision. The decision could be that they are proceeding with the case or, given the clarifications..., they might feel the case cannot proceed. We don't know what the NPA is going to say."

He criticised opposition parties for pre-empting the NPA's decision after Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille made submissions to the NPA on why the charges against Zuma should not be dropped.

"It is hypocritical to say you respect the Constitution and the rule of law and when the processes of the law are happening within the law... both the accused and the NPA are operating within the law, why do you jump and interfere?

"You even attack a decision that does not exist," he said.

Zuma's charges were related to a multi-billion rand government arms deal.

Media reports had speculated that the charges would be dropped.

The announcement could end a lengthy legal battle between the authority and Zuma.