Fired Deputy President Jacob Zuma yesterday called on supporters to strengthen the party so that the president they chose for the future did not inherit a weakened party.

Zuma was addressing an ANC election rally at Folweni, south of Durban, on the eve of his court appearance on charges of corruption.

He told about 10000 supporters they should resist the temptation to not vote for the ANC because they disagreed with the way he had been treated.

“Many people have come to me to say they are not going to vote ANC because of the way I have been treated... that is a mistake,” Zuma said to roars of approval.

“You cannot take what you consider to be a mistake made by individuals in the ANC or government and punish the ANC. That is wrong.”

He called on those who wanted to influence the succession within the ANC to stay with the party, not abandon it.

“If there is someone who you want to be president in the future you have to strengthen the ANC to achieve this,” Zuma added.

Concerns about the way in which he had been dealt with should be raised within the ANC’s structures.

Zuma said he would be criss-crossing KwaZulu-Natal and other provinces in the run-up to the local government elections.

Before he spoke, the crowd — thousands of whom wore T-shirts with pro-Zuma slogans and images — chanted “Zuma my president”.

The ANC has also issued T-shirts with Zuma’s image and a slogan claiming his innocence along with the words “register to vote now” in an attempt to overcome the “no-vote” sentiments in the party.

Earlier in the week, the ANC provincial secretary Senzo Mchunu said KwaZulu-Natal Premier S’bu Ndebele and several unnamed ANC national leaders would attend a vigil outside the court tomorrow night and during the court case.

Proceedings, said Mchunu, would be disciplined, with no marches or street protests planned by the organisers, who had been discussing security and logistics with the police for several weeks.

Mchunu said he was confident that the kind of anti-Mbeki placards and slogans prevalent at Zuma’s last appearance would not mar the show of solidarity with Zuma. There is no need for us to even contemplate what action to take,” he said.

Alliance leaders expect several thousand supporters to attend the vigil and court proceedings, with the top brass of both Cosatu and the SACP having confirmed their attendance.

SAPS spokesman Superintendent Phindile Radebe said security arrangements for the two days were still being finalised.

With acknowledgements to Paddy Harper and the Sunday Times.