Former deputy president Jacob Zuma was mobbed by supporters as he left the Durban Magistrate's Court today after his first appearance on two corruption charges. The case has been postponed to October 11 and Zuma was granted bail of R1000.

Supporters shouted, sang, blew vuvuzelas and waved posters of him with the words "Innocent until proved guilty" and chanted "Zuma, Zuma, Zuma" then in Zulu "You messed up Mbeki".

Some of the dozens of policemen controlling the crowds also waved as he made his way through the throng which included photographers jostling for pictures, while a helicopter circled overhead.

At the gates of the courthouse he stood on the step of a waiting black Landrover and waved to the crowd for about five minutes, and smiled.

He did not address them or make any comment.

One member of the crowd held an old piece of cardboard saying, "SA is not a pilot project of America" and another had one reading, "I am ready to die for my president in waiting".

Mandla Zulu, a 29-year-old road worker from Durban, told Sapa he was prepared to die for Zuma.

"I took unpaid leave to be here today, I will die for Mr Zuma, I am 100% behind him, he can't be found guilty. But I am worried because (President) Thabo (Mbeki) has got that decision already."

Another man, Sipho Gumede, said: "If Mr Zuma is found guilty they must clear the cells because we are going with him."

The crowd shook the gates as he was driven off in the Landrover, while police dressed in riot gear kept a close watch.

Earlier, as he entered the courtroom under heavy guard, people in the packed public gallery, which included members of the African National Congress, of which he is still deputy president, shouted: "Amandla", a strengthening cry from the anti-apartheid struggle.

Two members of the ANC Women's League began sobbing at the sight of him and people began chanting "Down with Mbeki in Zulu" and shouted "Msholozi", Zuma's clan name.

As soon as the court proceedings began the gallery fell silent.

"This case is postponed to October 11, 2005, you are to pay bail of R1000. The conditions are that witnesses are not to be interfered with directly or indirectly," Magistrate TS Ngcube said.

Zuma will not have to hand in his passport but will have to inform the prosecution every time he leaves the country.

Zuma was represented by Mohammed Patel with Anton Steinberg prosecuting.

He has officially been charged on two counts of corruption.

Outside the court Steinberg said it was not certain yet who would handle the case.

"We'll see, Billy (Downer) and myself probably, but nothing is certain."

He said many witnesses in the Schabir Shaik trial, which Downer was involved in, would be included in the Zuma trial.

Zuma's defence would be provided with a full list.

"We need to update and modify various aspects of the forensic report for the Shaik trial and there are various other avenues we

are investigating," Steinberg said.

Judge Hilary Squires of the Durban High Court recently found that a "generally corrupt" relationship existed between Zuma and businessman Schabir Shaik, who acted as his financial adviser.

The case related to alleged payments made to Zuma in exchange for protection during probes into arms deal contracts.

Shaik was sentenced to an effective 15 years in prison for corruption and fraud.

He will apply for leave to appeal his sentence on July 26.

Zuma was subsequently fired by Mbeki on June 14.

The National Prosecuting Authority has said that although it believed it had evidence against Zuma, it did not think it would win a case against him. Zuma has repeatedly said he would welcome a chance to go to court on the matter.

Shaik, who is on bail, was not seen at the court.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and the Business Day.