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By Gill Gifford, Karyn Maughan and Penny Sukhraj
Like other celebrity accused, his devoted fans came out in their hundreds.
For his alleged victim: a small contingent of family and friends.
Former deputy president Jacob Zuma smiled and nodded greetings as he entered the Johannesburg High Court on Monday. Head held high, he waved to his supporters.
| Justice started to run its course |
The complainant in the matter had entered the court earlier, head bowed and covered to conceal her face.
The outside of the court was also marked by stark contrasts. On one side of the entrance, the Friends of Jacob Zuma danced and sang. On the other, women from Powa (People Opposing Women Abuse) protested with placards under the banner "Women of Africa Won't be Beaten".
 
Rows of riot police lined the pavements. Bomb Disposal Unit officials and sniffer dogs combed the area, while VIP protection police officers and bodyguards swarmed around Zuma and his entourage.
Across the road, the broadcast media had set up camp. Vans with portable satellite dishes were evidence that the unfolding events would be broadcast live all over the world.
And then the supporters arrived - an estimated 3 000 of them - packing the streets as a PA system was set up and loud music played. The carnival-type atmosphere prevailed as the court proceedings started.
| Mistook a woman for the complainant, pelted her with stones |
Inside the solemn grey building, justice started to run its course.
The entrance to the corridor leading to court 4E was secured by a contingent of armed police officers, tasked with ensuring that every person entering the wing was searched.
Entry was strictly monitored, with only accredited media members, friends and family of Zuma and his accuser, as well as justice officials, allowed entry.
Zuma sat at a table in front of the dock, closely guarded. The 15 accreditation tags allocated to his camp were insufficient, and requests were made for more.
The woman he is accused of raping, listed as the first State witness to testify, arrived at the court under heavy guard at 7am but was absent from the court proceedings. Her supporters maintained a low-key presence.
Satisfied with his legal counsel's application to have Judge President Bernard Ngoepe recuse himself from presiding over the rape trial, Zuma left the court.
As Zuma walked out of court 4E and into the lifts, word quickly spread to the ground floor that he was coming through. People began ululating, shouting and waving as "Msholozi" walked through the main justice hall.
As soon as Zuma exited court, a cry of jubilation erupted from the 1 000-strong crowd. They toyi-toyied, whistled, screamed and danced for joy. The barricades erected so neatly in the morning had come down.
Earlier in the day, the crowd mistook a woman with a yellow-beige scarf for the complainant, and pelted her with stones. The unfortunate victim of mistaken identity fled inside the court for cover.
Only a thinly linked group of riot police stood between Zuma and the crowd, who were eager to touch and see him.
He raised his hands, and the crowd shouted once more. Everything else also came to a standstill.
Then just before he could leave, Zuma led the crowd in his favourite song, Leth'umshini wam (Bring me my machinegun).
- This article was originally published on page 1 of The Star on February 14, 2006
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