Behave or face tough action from party leaders. That is the message being given to thousands of supporters expected to converge on Pietermaritzburg for the start of Jacob Zuma's corruption trial.

At least 10 000 supporters are expected to turn up at the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Monday, but many are expected to attend a vigil outside the court building on Sunday night. In a joint alliance media briefing yesterday, ANC provincial secretary Senzo Mchunu said the leaders from the various regions would be held accountable if anyone from their areas misbehaved.

On Thursday it was clear the alliance would take no chances with disciplinary issues after the outcry that came after the burning of a T-shirt bearing the face of President Thabo Mbeki during one of Zuma's court appearances in Durban last year.

But tensions are likely to start growing from today after permission was granted to members of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) to stage a march to Durban's National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) offices on Friday. Cosatu had planned the march to demand that the NPA does not further postpone the trial.

Disciplinary issues Addressing the conference in Durban yesterday, Mchunu said the alliance was responsible for "co-ordinating the support" for the party's deputy president as agreed upon by the alliance structures.

He stressed the fact that alliance partners were working hard to ensure that support was characterised by "maximum discipline".

They had deployed 500 marshals to keep a watchful eye on those attending the night vigil and proceedings outside the court on Monday.

He said so far they were expecting 30 buses from townships in the Pietermaritzburg area alone and 15 from the eThekwini municipality.

The Zuma clan and the people from Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, are gearing up to be at his side starting with Sunday's night vigil outside the court. On Thursday Inkosi Bhekumuzi Zuma, of the Nxamalala clan, said many people from this rural area travelled to Johannesburg to be close to Zuma during his rape trial and this time the figure would be even higher.

At the national level, support for Zuma was "being supervised" by ANC secretary general Kgalema Montlanthe, flanked by ANC Youth League president Fikile Mbalula, the Youth League's secretary general Sihle Zikalala and Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi inside the court on Monday.

Mchunu said 110 people could be accommodated in the court, with 70 of the seats reserved for family friends and VIPs, while 35 seats had been set aside for the media.

While Pietermaritzburg's central business area is preparing for a security lockdown, sources close to Zuma said he had spent the past few days resting at Nkandla ahead of the trial.

Taxi operators and business people are beside themselves with worry, concerned about what the effect the trial will have on their daily activities. It is expected that strict rules of access will be applied and all necessary police units deployed.

There have been indications that the massive crowd of Zuma supporters will be cordoned off to the Freedom Square, away from the entrance to the court, which will be manned by the city's Mounted Unit.

The minibus taxi terminal, which is located within Freedom Square, will move temporarily behind the library to accommodate the crowds and minimise disruption to commuters. Earlier this year, a 2m palisade railing was erected around the court buildings which will provide an effective barrier against crowds.

This article was originally published on page 1 of Daily News on July 28, 2006

With acknowledgements to Independent On Line.