Pietermaritzburg, South Africa - Hundreds of supporters of the leader of South Africa's ruling party, Jacob Zuma, braved cold and wet conditions to show their support for the 66-year-old presidential hopeful ahead of a court hearing to decide the validity of corruption charges against him.

The gathering Sunday night came ahead of Zuma's appeal Monday to the High Court in the southern city of Pietermaritzburg to set aside the prosecution of the African National Congress (ANC) leader on charges of corruption, fraud, racketeering and money laundering in a state arms deal.

He is to argue that the state did not allow him to make representations about the charges against him before indicting him.

Joh

Lon