The battle lines in the ANC's succession battle have been clearly drawn, with ANC secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe tacitly throwing his weight behind the party's deputy president, Jacob Zuma, saying he was a "principled leader of the party".

Motlanthe, whose name has been bandied about as one of the party leaders who could replace President Thabo Mbeki, made the comments in an address to thousands of ANC supporters outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court yesterday.

The crowd was gathered to support Zuma, who is facing corruption and fraud charges.

Motlanthe's statement, which appears to be an endorsement of Zuma's candidature ahead of the party's national conference in December 2007, comes barely weeks after KwaZulu-Natal Premier S'bu Ndebele made it clear that the province would support Zuma at the conference.

The new ANC leader will be elected at the conference.

Speaking in isiZulu after Zuma's case was postponed until September 5, Motlanthe, who said he had worked with Zuma for more than 31 years, claimed it was untrue that Zuma only enjoyed support from some sections of the ANC-led tripartite alliance.

"We, as the alliance, speak with one voice. Zuma is a principled leader of the movement. He is supported by all members of the ANC," he said.

In a statement that echoed Zuma's assertion that he had never campaigned within the party to be made president of the ANC, Motlanthe said the ANC deputy president did not put personal interests above those of the party.

"When we are campaigning for votes, Zuma is always at the forefront. But when the positions are divided he takes a back seat," he said, to tumultuous applause.

Addressing the crowd, Cosatu general-secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said the federation's position was that the charges against Zuma should be dropped.

"The workers have always maintained that the charges against Zuma should be dropped and that he should be reinstated as the deputy president of the country. However, we were told we were irrational," he said.

Commenting on the trial Zuma, who was applauded when he emerged from court, said it was "unusual that a person is investigated for six years and yet, when the time comes for him to be charged, the State says the case is not ready".

With acknowledgements to Bheko Madlala and Cape Argus.