Cops gear up for Zuma trial
2006-09-04 23:23
Pietermaritzburg - Police in Pietermaritzburg geared up on Monday night for thousands of people expected to turn out to support former deputy president Jacob Zuma at his corruption and fraud trial.
Early on Monday night, a crowd of nearly 200 supporters were dancing in Freedom Square in front of Pietermaritzburg High Court, where Zuma is due to appear on Tuesday.
The supporters danced and sang to pro-Zuma songs blaring from large speakers on the back of a bakkie.
Vendors lined up on the pavement on the road opposite the court as police began erecting temporary fencing.
Charles Mtombeni had arrived in Pietermaritzburg on Monday morning from Johannesburg to sell ANC and Zuma T-shirt and caps.
"We have not slept, we will go to sleep only tomorrow night," he said.
While he had not sold a single T-shirt by 20:00, many people had shown an interest in his wares.
Fruit and snack vendors were, however, doing a brisk trade.
A pleased Lethina Zitha said a number of Zuma supporters had already bought some of her apples, bananas, oranges and packets of chips.
'Viva, Msholozi, viva'
"I came here this morning and I will go back home in the morning," said Zitha, 65, from Inanda, north of Durban.
She said she was struggling to raise her three grandchildren.
She said that "when Zuma is elected president (of the country)" he would be able to solve their problems.
"I wish him luck on his trial. Viva, Msholozi, viva."
Police expected as many as 1 000 people to turn up for the night vigil.
Earlier in the day at a news conference, KwaZulu-Natal ANC secretary-general Senzo Mchunu said the ANC was expecting up to 10 000 people to converge on Pietermaritzburg by the time Zuma arrived at court.
"The numbers coming to support him have stabilised. We expect between 8 000 and 10 000 people to show their support like last time."
Crowd behaviour
Mchunu said organisers had been "very happy" with the way supporters had behaved when Zuma appeared in court on July 31.
He said organisers would address concerns that supporters had not stayed within the demarcated areas, as well as the fact that a supporter had carried a banner of which "we did not approve".
He did not say what was written on the banner.
Mchunu said discussions had been held with police to facilitate security arrangements.
"Everything is in place. We are in the mood of ensuring comrade Jacob Zuma receives support."
High-profile support
He said several national leaders of the tripartite alliance were expected to turn up to show their support, including Zwelinzima Vavi, the general secretary of Cosatu.
Cosatu's KwaZulu-Natal general secretary, Zet Luzipho, would not attend proceedings after being injured in a car crash on Sunday.
Judge Herbert Msimang will hear Zuma's application to have the former deputy president's corruption trial thrown out of court.
The State is opposing the application and seeking to have the case postponed to early next year.
- SAPA