Durban — The leadership of the tripartite alliance will pull out all the stops to present a united front during a jam-packed weekend of rallies and events in KwaZulu-Natal to drum up support for African National Congress (ANC) deputy president Jacob Zuma ahead of his corruption trial.

The trial, which is scheduled to get under way in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Monday, could be postponed as the prosecuting team says it needs more time to complete its investigation.

Zuma’s various run-ins with the law have tested the mettle of the ANC’s leadership and are at the centre of deep political divisions within the ruling party and its allies.

The ANC top brass has been at pains to appear united ahead of Monday’s trial and have instructed alliance structures in the province to co-ordinate support for Zuma in an attempt to defuse tensions.

Addressing a media briefing yesterday, ANC provincial secretary Senzo Mchunu, flanked by Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) provincial chairman S’dumo Dlamini, South African Communist Party (SACP) provincial secretary Themba Mthembe and ANC Youth League provincial secretary Mxolisi Kaunda, said the alliance expected “upwards of 10000” people to flock to the city when Zuma goes on trial.

Zuma will address the SACP’s 85th anniversary rally at Wadley Stadium in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday. SACP leaders have been vocal in their condemnation of the state’s treatment of Zuma since President Thabo Mbeki axed him from the cabinet in June last year, following the conviction of his former financial adviser Schabir Shaik.

Zuma supporters have also criticised the National Prosecuting Authority, saying the state’s request for another postponement of Zuma’s trial amounted to a travesty of justice.

Mchunu said the alliance had mandated the Friends of Jacob Zuma Trust to collect funds for Zuma’s legal fees and other expenses related to the trial.

The trust will host a music concert at Kingsmead Cricket Stadium on Saturday as part of their fund raising efforts.

Dlamini said a Cosatu protest march scheduled for today had to be cancelled because police refused to grant permission for the protest.

Mchunu said the alliance’s provincial leadership would be present in court.

He appealed for “maximum discipline” during the trial, and said regional leaders would be held accountable for members’ actions.

Police spokesman Mngome Zulu said all court entrances would be guarded by police and metal detectors. Roads surrounding the court would be closed, temporary steel barricades would protect those going in and out of court, and police would protect supporters.

With acknowledgement to Edward West and Business Day.