Former deputy president Jacob Zuma arrived at the Durban Magistrate’s Court shortly before 9am on Tuesday for his second appearance on charges of corruption.
Zuma arrived in a black Mercedes 4×4 with tinted windows.
He was charged following the conviction of his friend and former financial adviser Schabir Shaik, who was earlier sentenced to 15 years in jail on fraud and corruption charges. Shaik is out on bail pending the outcome of his appeal.
Also in court on Tuesday were Mo Shaik, brother of Schabir; former African National Congress chief whip Tony Yengeni; ANC head of publicity Smuts Ngonyama and Durban mayor Obed Mlaba.
Zuma was greeted with shouts of ”viva” and ululations from the few supporters who were allowed inside the court premises, and those who were standing outside the gate.
Normal court proceedings have been delayed and only a vetted group of people are allowed into the court.
Zuma is not the only South African leader to have received funds from Schabir Shaik, a supporter charged outside the court on Tuesday morning.
Promise Dlamini, a switchboard operator at a Durban hospital, went straight from her all-night shift to join crowds airing their views outside the court.
”If you look at how the trouble started for Zuma, I would say there’s a snake because he’s not the only leader who received funds from Schabir Shaik.
”Why do they not investigate all the other leaders?” she asked.
Zuma’s supporters held a vigil outside the court on Monday night. A huge police contingent monitored the situation as the crowd sang and toyi-toyied in the road outside the court.
Zuma’s supporters blew vuvuzelas, waved African National Congress flags and held placards bearing Zuma’s face.
Some of the placards read: ”Zuma won’t get a fair trial”, ”Transform judiciary and all institutions”, ”Support Msholozi” and ”Who is Zuming who?”.
Happy Mngadi, an ANC member from Durban, said she was there because she believed Zuma had suffered enough while fighting for freedom for the country.
”You wouldn’t want Madiba to suffer more, so why do you want Zuma to suffer more?” she asked.
She said it was obvious that the trial and his sacking had left Zuma traumatised.
”There is no member of the ANC who has money because they were in jail. They all had sponsors. They all received money, so why is Zuma getting jailed for what he received?” she asked.
Tom Madlala, a South African Communist Party chairperson from Port Shepstone, said he was there to support Zuma, who was going through a crisis.
”Zuma should be the next president,” he said. ”The [American] FBI and CIA are trying to rule South Africa through the Scorpions by using the Scorpions to discredit Zuma and other ANC members who support the workers and the poor.”
Madlala said he wanted Zuma’s case to be withdrawn.
Joy Madlala said she was angry because everyone knew Zuma was innocent.
”Why are they charging him before he goes to the magistrate?” — Sapa