'100 percent supporter of JZ'
2006-03-29 10:23
Johannesburg - Jacob Zuma's supporters chose a presidential theme for Wednesday's leg of their Johannesburg High Court vigil.
Boosted by a Limpopo African National Congress (ANC) contingent, supporters at the rape trial carried posters reading: "Zuma for President", "Zuma ANC Pres uncontested" and "I can't Wait for JZ's State of Nation Address".
Zuma is accused of raping a close family friend on November 2 last year in Johannesburg.
His defence team has brought an application for his discharge.
Zuma's supporters believe the rape charge and other corruption charges are part of a political conspiracy to take him out of the running for the Presidency.
Supporter John Molabo held a poster reading: "Sello Moloto 100 percent Supporter of JZ", but he wasn't sure whether Moloto, the Limpopo premier would join the vigil later.
Molabo, who had arrived at 02:00, said: "We are here to support our deputy president, which is our president to come".
Zuma, who was axed as the country's deputy president, is still deputy president of the ANC.
Molabo said the group had taken time off from other activities because, "like soldiers we have to sacrifice".
Nearby, another group of supporters formed lines and acted out military manoeuvres, with some miming leopard crawls on the tarmac.
A row of riot policemen was positioned in front of them. "We've been here since 06:30 ... it's going to be a long day," said one.
- SAPA