The highest-ranked SA politician ever to appear before a judge

When Jacob Zuma takes the stand in court Wednesday morning, it will be the precursor to the criminal prosecution for a serious crime of the highest political figure to date in the history of South African law.

Two weeks ago, Zuma was still deputy president of South Africa, but a week earlier, his financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, was sentenced to an effective 15 years in prison in the case that paved the way for Zuma's prosecution today.

Judge Hilary Squires found in the Shaik trial that there was a generally corrupt relationship between the Durban businessman and the ANC politician.

Squires also found that Shaik had been the intermediary when Thales, the French defence company, bribed Zuma in 2000 to protect them in the investigation into the arms deal scandal.

Though this still has to be detailed in the indictment that the Scorpions will be drawing up in the coming months, these allegations are the basis of the state's case against the embattled Zuma.

But the skimpy charge sheet, which advocate Anton Steynberg of the Scorpions will hand in to the court today, will mention only two charges of corruption.

Zuma, who has maintained his innocence for two years, will not be asked to plead.

Though the court proceedings against Zuma do not promise any surprises, indications are that the high political drama that accompanied the allegations against him for several years is not yet over.

As a signal of the swell of support for Zuma at grassroots level in KwaZulu-Natal in recent weeks, provincial secretary of Cosatu Zet Luzipho expects that more than 1 000 people may turn up at the court today to show their solidarity with Zuma.

Various sources have suggested that a political motive lies hidden behind the allegations against Zuma.

Last night, hundreds of members of the ANC Youth League, Cosatu, the South African Communist Party and other Zuma supporters braved the rain and wintry weather to hold a night vigil in support of the beleaguered politician.

The vigil, like all other political gatherings in the province since Zuma's dismissal, was characterised by slogans proclaiming solidarity with Zuma.

Cosatu provincial chairman Sdumo Dlamini said disaster struck when, based on the opposition's demands, President Thabo Mbeki succumbed to pressure and "released" Zuma.

"But we are here to say we will not allow the imperialists to determine who becomes our next president," he said.

Dlamini said Zuma, like all citizens of the country, is innocent until proven guilty and not the other way round.

"Now it is as if he is guilty until proven innocent," Dlamini said.

The crowd started gathering after 8 pm and chanted pro-Zuma slogans saying that there is no ANC without Zuma.

The supporters held placards saying: "Zuma for President" and "Innocent until proven guilty".

With acknowledgement to Dries Liebenberg, Noloyiso Mchunu and The Natal Witness.