But he has been ducking three key questions:

Did he take a bribe from arms company Thales?
Did he lie to parliament by submitting a false loan agreement?
Was he in a corrupt relationship with Shaik?

In his ultimate political fight, Jacob Zuma has gone on a massive charm offensive to reinforce his support base.

In the deputy president's utterances since his friend and financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, was convicted of fraud and corruption, he has been consistent in playing the part of a man victimised by opposition political parties and the media.

However, this powerful politician - found by Judge Hilary Squires to have been involved in a corrupt relationship with Shaik - has failed to answer three pertinent questions:

That he negotiated and accepted a bribe from arms manufacturer Thales.
That he lied to parliament by submitting a loan agreement found to be false by Judge Squires.
That he was in a corrupt relationship with Shaik.

Instead of answering these questions, Zuma has repeatedly said he had not been charged with any crime and had not been in a court of law.

Yesterday, during an imbizo in East London, Zuma said the media had treated him in a "grossly unfair" way and used the Shaik trial for political reasons.

He told business and political leaders at a breakfast in East London that he had been tried and convicted by the media.

"The manner in which this has been dealt with has been grossly unfair. The media have used this case for political reasons. "Every time they talked about the case, they talked about the problem of politics," Zuma said.

He added that he had never been given a chance to answer the charges against him.

"In this country, we have a constitution that every citizen has a right that they must be taken to court, be tried and be heard, and at the end, a judgment be made. That chance was never given to me *1. The judgment was for someone else."

The deputy president's charm offensive seems to have worked.

In the last five days, he has received "pastoral support, sustenance and prayers" from the SA Council of Churches.

He has also received overwhelming support from the ANC caucus in parliament, the ANC in KwaZulu Natal, Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini - with whom he attended a play in Johannesburg - and from the Young Communist League.

In Johannesburg yesterday, an ANCYL march to demand jobs for the youth turned into a Zuma support rally.

The youths, wearing T-shirts that read "Zuma 100%" on the front and "Innocent Until Proven Guilty" on the back, called for Zuma to be the next president.

In the Eastern Cape, where Zuma is spending two days on an official government imbizo programme, support was also forthcoming for the man fighting to remain deputy president.

Zuma's helicopter was welcomed everywhere by crowds, and a group of singing women greeted the deputy president at Keiskammahoek near King William's Town.

"They are telling lies about Msholo (Zuma). We will tell (President) Thabo (Mbeki)," the women sang in isiXhosa.

About 200 people from the village waited for Zuma as a strong, icy wind blew, but not everyone was complimentary.

Mohammed Yusuf Malik, a 24-year-old from Keiskammahoek, said he was keen to see corrupt politicians face the wrath of the law.

"They are wrong for lying ... all of them. I have no trust in the ANC. All we can trust is God," Malik said.

Another man, Joseph Hele (44), said Zuma "was in on it" and that if there was evidence, "they should all face one joint judgment".

Still, Zuma continues to ride on a wave of support, but he will soon know whether he has support from the man who matters most, Mbeki, who is expected to announce whether he will support Zuma and keep him as his deputy or fire him.

With acknowledgement to The Star.

*1 Come on Adv Pikoli, give a man a chance.

Plus you never know what else might come becreeping out of the woodwork - a bonus.