President Jacob Zuma has made an appearance at the African National Congress' (ANC's) caucus meeting in Parliament on Tuesday morning ahead of the motion of no confidence against him.

Zuma, flanked by bodyguards, used an alternative entrance to enter the Old Assembly chamber where the 249 minus three MPs will meet to discuss the motion.

It will be held via secret ballot in the National Assembly later on Tuesday. The debate will start at 14:00.

It was the same entrance Zuma used to attend the party's caucus meeting before the previous motion of no confidence back in November.

In what may be seen as a show of force, both Zuma and ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe were in the meeting on Tuesday.

MPs are expected to be read the riot act on how to vote when they cast their ballots in secret, with chief whip Jackson Mthembu declaring the party line as being firmly against the motion.

ANC MPs must not support the opposition's motion, he had said on Friday.